If you received the notice you are in this circle, then well doneIf you would like to be included in the next Circle Share, you only have to do these simple steps:1 - Include me and Neil Bailey in your circles (If you haven't already)2 - Share the circle (Publicly) - (cc) me in the comments on the share and I can add you to the next circle immediately. Otherwise I may not notice your activity!3 - Add +1 to the post.4 - Leave a comment if you like.5 - Add the circle or just check it out.Follow your dreams, Share and Be SharedMore you share more you get! :)Thanks!#circleshare #CircleShareOfTheDay #topofthepeople #east #of #the #Suez #Canal #the #Ural #River #and #the #Ural #Mountains #and #south #of #the #Caucasus #Mountains #or #the #Kuma #Manych #Depression #and #the #conflicts #equidistant #projection #of #Asia #and #surrounding

If you received the notice you are in this circle, then well doneIf you would like to be included in the next Circle Share, you only have to do these simple steps:1 - Include me in your circles (If you haven't already)2 - Share the circle (Publicly) - (cc) me in the comments on the share and I can add you to the next circle immediately. Otherwise I may not notice your activity!3 - Add +1 to the post.4 - Leave a comment if you like.5 - Add the circle or just check it out.Follow your dreams, Share and Be SharedMore you share more you get! :)Thanks!#topofthepeople #east #of #the #Suez #Canal #the #Ural #River #and #the #Ural #Mountains #and #south #of #the #Caucasus #Mountains #or #the #Kuma #Manych #Depression #and #the #conflicts #equidistant #projection #of #Asia #and #surrounding #landmassesThe #racial #diversity

#circleoftheday #CircleShar of the DayBoost your visibility on Google+ - Share the circle!To be added to or stay in this Circle - Share the circleIf you received the notice you are in this circle, then well done.If you would like to be included in the next Circle Share, you only have to do these simple steps:1 - Include me in your circles2 - Share the circle (Publicly)3 - Add +1 to the post.4 - Leave a commentI will thankful if you plus and share this circle!------------------------#circles #Gif #Life #Funny #love #addfriends #Addpeople #Addcircle #addcircles #food #circles #followers #Web #tsu #publicsharedcircles #Share #shared #Money #sharedcircleoftheday #Sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #Sharingcircles #CatLovers #Cat #FunnyPics #LOL #Humor #Cute #activemembers #newfollowers #topsharedcircle #circlesharing #fullcircleshare

This circle contains people who are very active on Google+.People in this Circle are top google+ engagers and great resharers. These are people that will share and re-post your circles and other content. This is a good circle to connect with each other and gain followers. I highly suggest adding each person in this Circle to your circles as they are likely to interact with youIf you want to continue or wish to get in the next version, please complete 1-4 below.INSTRUCTIONS1. Add me to your circles, if you haven't done so already.2. +1 this circle.3. Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles.4. Comment to inform me that you have done the above three things.#circlesharing #publiccircle #publicsharedcircles #SharedCircles #circlesharing #circleshare #circleoftheday #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircle #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #circleshare #circlesharing #fullcircleshare #topsharedcircle #circleoftheday #sharedcircle #topsharedcircle﻿

TOP Team AG Friends Circle 0007Hey my friends. Good morning/evening to all! Circle brings together nice and interesting peopleIf you want to be a part of my best shared circles, this is the circle, you may want to add and share circle.Share The Circle And Boost Your Visibility On G+1. Add us to your circles, if you haven't done so already2. +1 this circle3. Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles.4. If possible, leave a comment on this circle so we know you have done the three steps above.Please make sure you do it on the original post or I won't notice it More you share more you get!Hi everybody, here is the circle of Circle AG. They have made it to the Loyal FollowersCircle without getting tired of spreading.AG Circle contains highly active membersof GooglePlus. If you want to engage with most activemembers you should ADD this circle.I would love to thank to each and every person who have joined the ride with us.Thank you very much! Iappreciate your dedication and hard work.I don't wish to offend anyone on the internet, so if you would like to be removed from my shared circles, please send me a private message and I won't share your profile in the future. The only way being shared will affect you is that you will get notifications that people have added you. You are under no obligation to add them back to your circles. If you don't add them back, they will most likely remove you from their circles after some time.﻿#circle #circleshare #circlesharing #circles #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircleoftheday #shared ﻿

Elite Team AG Friends Circle 400Hey my friends. Good morning/evening to all! Circle brings together nice and interesting peopleIf you want to be a part of my best shared circles, this is the circle, you may want to add and share circle.Share The Circle And Boost Your Visibility On G+1. Add us to your circles, if you haven't done so already2. +1 this circle3. Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles.4. If possible, leave a comment on this circle so we know you have done the three steps above.Please make sure you do it on the original post or I won't notice it More you share more you get!Hi everybody, here is the circle of Circle AG. They have made it to the Loyal FollowersCircle without getting tired of spreading.AG Circle contains highly active membersof GooglePlus. If you want to engage with most activemembers you should ADD this circle.I would love to thank to each and every person who have joined the ride with us.Thank you very much! Iappreciate your dedication and hard work.I don't wish to offend anyone on the internet, so if you would like to be removed from my shared circles, please send me a private message and I won't share your profile in the future. The only way being shared will affect you is that you will get notifications that people have added you. You are under no obligation to add them back to your circles. If you don't add them back, they will most likely remove you from their circles after some time.﻿*****************************************************In the "Special Circle No. 100" will be people who share these three parts, each own circuit. So there will be only one "Special Circle"...I apologize if I made any mistake, I will correct it... Thanks again for your SUPPORT !!!*******************************************************#circle #circleshare #circlesharing #circles #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircleoftheday #shared #circle #circles #public #publiccircle #circleshare #circlesharing #sharedcircles #sharedcircle #morefollowers #sharingcircles

If you receive this, you are in this Circle. To continue or wish to join, please complete 3 below.➤ To be added into the next share, follow these simple steps: 1) Add the circle2) Plus the original post3) Share the circle publicly (and with your circles/extended circles)LINK TO THE ORIGINAL SHARED CIRCLE GROUPhttps://plus.google.com/communities/118227900918288458001Thanks again for your SUPPORT !!!------------#circleshare #circlesharing #sharedcircles #sharingcircles #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircleoftheday #circlesunday #share #shared #followers #addcircles #publicsharedcircles #share #addpeople #addcircle #addfriends #circle #socialmedia ﻿

TOP Team AG Friends Circle 0006Hey my friends. Good morning/evening to all! Circle brings together nice and interesting peopleIf you want to be a part of my best shared circles, this is the circle, you may want to add and share circle.Share The Circle And Boost Your Visibility On G+1. Add us to your circles, if you haven't done so already2. +1 this circle3. Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles.4. If possible, leave a comment on this circle so we know you have done the three steps above.Please make sure you do it on the original post or I won't notice it More you share more you get!Hi everybody, here is the circle of Circle AG. They have made it to the Loyal FollowersCircle without getting tired of spreading.AG Circle contains highly active membersof GooglePlus. If you want to engage with most activemembers you should ADD this circle.I would love to thank to each and every person who have joined the ride with us.Thank you very much! Iappreciate your dedication and hard work.I don't wish to offend anyone on the internet, so if you would like to be removed from my shared circles, please send me a private message and I won't share your profile in the future. The only way being shared will affect you is that you will get notifications that people have added you. You are under no obligation to add them back to your circles. If you don't add them back, they will most likely remove you from their circles after some time.﻿#circle #circleshare #circlesharing #circles #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircleoftheday #shared ﻿

BEST CIRCLE 26 JANUARY 2015------------------------------------------------ BEST Circle Share By Top News Only New Year Share and Be Shared If you want to be shared in this circle Boost your visibility on Google+ Watch car and motorcycle video FULL automotive Car and Motorcycle PICTURE 2015 Car and Motorcycle VIDEO Share the circle! GET MORE QUICKLY CIRCLE AND FOLLOWER ON GOOGLE+HERE'S OF MY SHARED PUBLIC CIRCLE------------------------------------------------Hope that you have been having a great week on Google+. Thank you for sharing and promoting this and for connecting up with all the great accounts I have included. Great With This Cilcle!!,Boost your visibility on Google+ - Share the circle!Boost your visibility on Google+ - Share the circle!To be added to the Circle you have to do these simple steps:1 Include me in your circles2 Click add people and create your circle3 +1 this circle4 Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles. ( dont forget share the circle and include yourself )5 If possible, leave a comment on this circle so I know you have done the three steps above (I say "if possible" as my circle comments more often than not hit the 500 comment limit).6 So I can easily find your share, always publicly share my original shared circle. You'll know if you're sharing the original one because you won't see "Jason Levy originally shared" above here. If you do see it, click on "originally shared" and it will bring you to this post.-------------------------------------------------FOLLOW ME TO GET MORE CIRCLE AND FOLLOWER HERE http://goo.gl/os2LFw-------------------------------------------------+Andrea Gervasi +Bobby Lundmark +Carmilita Zotomayor-Riveral Sharing +Dana Altman +Elevations RTC +Francisco Antunes +Ghufran AL hamo +Hammad Rais +Ivan Colmenero Photography +

TOP Team AG Friends Circle 0005Hey my friends. Good morning/evening to all! Circle brings together nice and interesting peopleIf you want to be a part of my best shared circles, this is the circle, you may want to add and share circle.Share The Circle And Boost Your Visibility On G+1. Add us to your circles, if you haven't done so already2. +1 this circle3. Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles.4. If possible, leave a comment on this circle so we know you have done the three steps above.Please make sure you do it on the original post or I won't notice it More you share more you get!Hi everybody, here is the circle of Circle AG. They have made it to the Loyal FollowersCircle without getting tired of spreading.AG Circle contains highly active membersof GooglePlus. If you want to engage with most activemembers you should ADD this circle.I would love to thank to each and every person who have joined the ride with us.Thank you very much! Iappreciate your dedication and hard work.I don't wish to offend anyone on the internet, so if you would like to be removed from my shared circles, please send me a private message and I won't share your profile in the future. The only way being shared will affect you is that you will get notifications that people have added you. You are under no obligation to add them back to your circles. If you don't add them back, they will most likely remove you from their circles after some time.﻿#circle #circleshare #circlesharing #circles #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircleoftheday #shared ﻿

TOP Team AG Friends Circle 0004Hey my friends. Good morning/evening to all! Circle brings together nice and interesting peopleIf you want to be a part of my best shared circles, this is the circle, you may want to add and share circle.Share The Circle And Boost Your Visibility On G+1. Add us to your circles, if you haven't done so already2. +1 this circle3. Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles.4. If possible, leave a comment on this circle so we know you have done the three steps above.Please make sure you do it on the original post or I won't notice it More you share more you get!Hi everybody, here is the circle of Circle AG. They have made it to the Loyal FollowersCircle without getting tired of spreading.AG Circle contains highly active membersof GooglePlus. If you want to engage with most activemembers you should ADD this circle.I would love to thank to each and every person who have joined the ride with us.Thank you very much! Iappreciate your dedication and hard work.I don't wish to offend anyone on the internet, so if you would like to be removed from my shared circles, please send me a private message and I won't share your profile in the future. The only way being shared will affect you is that you will get notifications that people have added you. You are under no obligation to add them back to your circles. If you don't add them back, they will most likely remove you from their circles after some time.﻿#circle #circleshare #circlesharing #circles #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircleoftheday #shared ﻿

BEST CIRCLE 12 JANUARY 2015------------------------------------------------ BEST Circle Share By Techno Up Review New Year Share and Be Shared If you want to be shared in this circle Boost your visibility on Google+ Watch Technology video FULL Technology Review Technology PICTURE 2015 technology VIDEO Share the circle! GET MORE QUICKLY CIRCLE AND FOLLOWER ON GOOGLE+HERE'S OF MY SHARED PUBLIC CIRCLE------------------------------------------------Hope that you have been having a great week on Google+. Thank you for sharing and promoting this and for connecting up with all the great accounts I have included. Great With This Cilcle!!,Boost your visibility on Google+ - Share the circle!Boost your visibility on Google+ - Share the circle!To be added to the Circle you have to do these simple steps:1 Include me in your circles2 Click add people and create your circle3 +1 this circle4 Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles. ( dont forget share the circle and include yourself )5 If possible, leave a comment on this circle so I know you have done the three steps above (I say "if possible" as my circle comments more often than not hit the 500 comment limit).6 So I can easily find your share, always publicly share my original shared circle. You'll know if you're sharing the original one because you won't see "Jason Levy originally shared" above here. If you do see it, click on "originally shared" and it will bring you to this post.-------------------------------------------------FOLLOW ME TO GET MORE CIRCLE AND FOLLOWER HERE http://goo.gl/uPhCKp------------------------------------------------- #News #Android #Linux #Ubuntu #CES2015 #AirDroid3 #Smartphone #Samsung #Apple #JavaScript #RaspberryPi #Microsoft #Lollipop #Google #HTML5 #AndroidWear #Debian

TOP Team AG Friends Circle 0003Hey my friends. Good morning/evening to all! Circle brings together nice and interesting peopleIf you want to be a part of my best shared circles, this is the circle, you may want to add and share circle.Share The Circle And Boost Your Visibility On G+1. Add us to your circles, if you haven't done so already2. +1 this circle3. Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles.4. If possible, leave a comment on this circle so we know you have done the three steps above.Please make sure you do it on the original post or I won't notice it More you share more you get!Hi everybody, here is the circle of Circle AG. They have made it to the Loyal FollowersCircle without getting tired of spreading.AG Circle contains highly active membersof GooglePlus. If you want to engage with most activemembers you should ADD this circle.I would love to thank to each and every person who have joined the ride with us.Thank you very much! Iappreciate your dedication and hard work.I don't wish to offend anyone on the internet, so if you would like to be removed from my shared circles, please send me a private message and I won't share your profile in the future. The only way being shared will affect you is that you will get notifications that people have added you. You are under no obligation to add them back to your circles. If you don't add them back, they will most likely remove you from their circles after some time.﻿#circle #circleshare #circlesharing #circles #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircleoftheday #shared ﻿

*If You recieve this message You are included in circle !!!To get in, and to ensure you stay in #thebestfriends circle you need to do the following:1. Include me in your circles...!!!2. Add the circle if you can, if not try again later.3. Plus this post...!!4. Publicly share this circle...!!5. Leave a comment on this circle so I know you have done the three steps above...!!!*#photography #circlesharingforthepeopleplc #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #sharedcircleoftheday #Japan #Jersey #Jordan #Kazakhstan #Kenya #Kiribati #Latvia #Lebanon #Lesotho #Liberia #Libyan #Arab #Jamahiriya #Liechtenstein #Lithuania #Luxembourg #Macao #Macedonia #Madagascar #Malawi #Malaysia #Maldives #Mali #Malta #Marshall #Islands #Martinique #Mauritania #Mauritius #Monaco

Dear Google Friends! - You're in this CircleAdd Users & Pluss +1 & ShareThis is a super Circle and in it I put together a group of really interesting and active people on Google Plus to add in your circles.I'm talking about the top Google+ users that share unique and original contents.Follow this advice and grow your G+ community with people that share amazing content that will surprise you:Boost your visibility on Google+ - Share the circle!If you want to be added to the next Circle you have to do these simple steps:1 - Include me in your circles 3 - Share the circle (Publicly) 4 - Add +1 to the post 5 - Follow your dreams and smile to life.More you share more you get! :)Thanks!#circleshare #circlesharing #circle #sharedcircles #sharedpubliccircles #circlecount #circlecircle #naturephotographers #naturephotography #birdphotography #birdphotographers #circlesharing #circlesharingforthepeopleplc #sharedcircleoftheday #sharedcircleday #publiccirclesproject #publiccircles #publicsharedcircles #sharedpublicircles #circle #circles #circlemeup #awesomepeople #awesomecircle #circleme #sharedpoint #sharewithyou #ShareYourCircle #epicengagers

Active users on Google+. Circle Share If you received a notification, please reshare to your circlesIf you’d like to be added to the next circle share: • +1 this circle • Share this circle to PUBLIC • Include me in your circles • Comment on this post﻿

Active users on Google+. Circle Share If you received a notification, please reshare to your circlesIf you’d like to be added to the next circle share: • +1 this circle • Share this circle to PUBLIC • Include me in your circles • Comment on this post﻿#topofthepeople #influencermarketing #sharedcircle #circleshare #circlethis #socialmediamarketing #socialmediastrategy #socialnetworking #circleoftheday #circleoftheweek #circleoftheday #topofthecircle﻿

DIAMOND TEAM ELITE ENGAGER CIRCLE 11.11.14This is my Diamond Team Elite Circle. Along with my Elite Inner Circle, these are the people who have helped me grow to where I am today. They have my gratitude, and to help them, and to help you grow your followers I am sharing them here. There is no automatic criteria to get into this circle. These are people who I have chosen and personally hand curated.To get to the next level and have a chance to become a Team Elite Engager, there are five simple steps:1. Make sure you have added me!2. +1 this post3. Publicly share this circle to public, your circles and extended circles. DO NOT DELETE THIS SHARE OR YOU WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM NEXT WEEK'S OR POSSIBLY BLACKLISTED FROM FOR GOOD4. Optionally, comment to let me know what you have done! (this is optional, because my circles often reach the maximum 500 comments).5. So I can easily find your share, always publicly share my original shared circle. You'll know if you're sharing the original one because you won't see "Jason Levy originally shared" above here. If you do see it, click on "originally shared" and it will bring you to this post.6. Optionally, add everyone from this circle - your Google Plus engagement is likely to skyrocket, as many people in the circle will add you back and plus, share and comment on your posts!~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~I don't wish to offend anyone on the internet, so if you would like to be removed from my shared circles, please send me a private message and I won't share your profile in the future. The only way being shared will affect you is that you will get notifications that people have added you. You are under no obligation to add them back to your circles. If you don't add them back, they will most likely remove you from their circles after some time.~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~The ReSound Enzo includes two firsts: It is the first Super Power Made For iPhone hearing aid, and it is also the first MFi hearing aid that includes a telecoil, allowing wearers to take advantage of hands free calling with their iPhone, as well as wireless streaming of music, Facetime and YouTube from their iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, and iPod Touch - as well as listening through public loop induction systems in theatres, banks, post offices and places of worship.Unless you have used this kind of technology before you're probably thinking it's no big deal - after all, you've been able to get Bluetooth headsets for years, but until now you used to need an intermediate wireless device worn as a necklace or lapel clip to translate between Bluetooth and each manufacturer's own proprietary wireless protocol. As well as extra bulk, these would be one more gadget you'd have to remember to charge. The Made For iPhone protocol and hardware does away with all that as it's already built in to the hearing aids. Pretty neat, huh?http://www.londonhearingaids.co.uk/ReSound/resound-enzo-9-hearing-aid-uk-price-lowest-guaranteed-1675-including-lifetime-aftercare-call-0203-397-9787.html#enzo #resoundenzo #resound #mfi #MadeForiPhone #superpower

Grow your G+ community with people that share amazing content that will surprise you:If you received the notice you are in this circle, then well done.If you would like to be included in the next Circle Share you only have to do these simple steps:1 - Include me in your circles 3 - Share the circle (Publicly) 4 - Add +1 to the post 5 - Follow your dreams and smile to life.More you share More you get! :)I will thankful if you plus and share this circle!#topofthepeople #influencermarketing #sharedcircle #circleshare #circlethis #socialmediamarketing #socialmediastrategy #socialnetworking #circleoftheday #circleoftheweek #circleoftheday #topofthecircle #howtoenlargecircle #enlargecircle #thursdaycircle #share #weekendcircle #weekend #weekendfun #circles #circleyoushare #publiccircle #sharedcircles #addcircle #sharedpubliccircles #circleshare #publicsharedcircles #circleoftheweek #circlesharing #sharedcircle #circleshare #circle

Hi and welcome to Exposure.If you have received this notification you have been invited to join in the exposure circle Edition: 2nd November – 9th November 2014.This page/circle is dedicated to G+ photographers and their photographs. Please circle exposure and its members so we can all share and also see some great photography at the same time!! How to get involvedPhotographersIf you are a photographer (professional or amateur) and would like to be included:THE RULES!!!1 Plus and publicly share this original post ( the sharing is not obligatory but much appreciated as it helps to spread the word for all involved) 2 Add a comment and a link to one of your recent photographs to the original post so that others can see your work. (Original work only please).3 Add +exposure to your friends 4 OPTIONAL COMPETITION:There will be a weekly Exposure competition where you can add ONE photograph from your recent posts. A first, second and third place will be awarded and shared on the exposure stream each week! ADD ONLY ONE PHOTO IN THE COMPETITION: https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/c718tj10d42127mvt1520qkhnl0 5 The winner of each week will be added to the exposure winner’s hall of fame and then go forward to the end of year exposure photograph of the year competition as voted for by the exposure members.6 You are also most welcome to join the exposure community where you can: Post your photos (more than one if you like!!)Add your photographs to be critiqued by other members – honest but kind pleaseAdd a link to you circlesAdd a link to your photography websiteAdd a link to some photography newsAdd a link to photography articlesRead all the latest Exposure news!!https://plus.google.com/communities/101671655972389351135Sharing the Exposure circleBy sharing and promoting the circle on your stream, others will not only see this photography but it will also help promote the work of others. This should lead to more fun and engagement for all concerned! Please share on your stream publicly ( or with many circles as possible!!) ﻿

This is my current "Women of G+" circle. These ladies are entertaining, beautiful, enlightened, engaging, interesting, Intelligent and all around enjoyable to have in your feed. You might want to consider them. ﻿

Hi and welcome to Exposure.If you have received this notification you have been invited to join in the exposure circle. Edition : 31st August – 7th September 2014.This page/circle is dedicated to G+ photographers and their photographs.Please circle exposure and its members so we can all share and also see some great photography at the same time!!How to get involvedPhotographersIf you are a photographer ( professional or amateur) and would like to be included:THE RULES!!!1 Plus and publicly share this original post ( the sharing is not obligatory but much appreciated as it helps to spread the word for all involved)2 Add a comment and a link to one of your recent photographs to the original post so that others can see your work. (Original work only please).3 Add +exposure to your friends4 OPTIONAL GALLERY AND COMPETITION :There will be a weekly Exposure gallery where you can add a favourite photograph from your recent posts. A first, second and third place will be awarded and shared on the exposure stream each week! ADD YOUR COMPETITION PHOTO IN THE GALLERY : https://plus.google.com/events/cj10frg7h4utu0fkr5m9q003llo?authkey=COCQ2ODt082kJQ5 The winner of each week will be added to the exposure winners hall of fame and then go forward to the end of year exposure photograph of the year competition as voted for by the exposure members.6 You are also most welcome to join the exposure community where you can: Post your photos ( more than one if you like!!)Add your photographs to be critiqued by other members – honest but kind pleaseAdd a link to you circlesAdd a link to your photography websiteAdd a link to some photography newsAdd a link to photography articlesRead all the latest Exposure news!!https://plus.google.com/communities/101671655972389351135Sharing the Exposure circleBy sharing and promoting the circle on your stream, others will not only see this photography but it will also help promote the work of others. This should lead to more fun and engagement for all concerned! Please share on your stream publicly ( or with many circles as possible!!)﻿

Another great circle shared with me by an amazing G+'er!!This circle will add great, amazing, wonderful, and awesome content to you feed plus your page will receive massive engagement and ppplllluuuussss OnEs!!! Welcome to +circle your circle with circles!!!!! :DBoost your visibility on Google+ - Share the circle!To be added to the Circle you have to do these simple steps:1 - include me in your circles2 - Click add people and create your circle3 - share the circle (include yourself)4 - add +1 to the postMore you share more you get! #circle #circleshare ﻿

Most comments: 479

we have a talented bunch on g+! :) (expand post to see everyone's special talents!)they say don't judge a book by its cover, nor a bird by its color.oftentimes, what makes us special is not immediately discernible.what if we could see everyone's inner selves readily? :)+Charles Lu.........................................................................................................we have a talented bunch on g+ ! :)

+Ron Bearry I have studied the martial arts for many years. I earned my black belt in Kenpo Karate in 1992. I've learned many things about myself (and motivation) along the way. I've learned that a person can accomplish anything they wish as long as they are willing to work for it! I once participated in tournaments for fun b... more »

Most reshares: 258

co-existingif you could communicate w/any lifeform, what would you want to know, and from whom?

a fin's length of glass separates us from another world a flick of our tails brings us closer togetheryou taught us colors and voice signals, and you gave us free health carewe don't know what we can teach youbut we can show you that it is possible to coexist...

...as long as you feed us first. fun fact- whale sharks are filter feeders and they will not eat the other fish :)

+Carla Usery I never want that cycle to change. I find the predictably of that change alternately comforting and energizing!

+Kerry Murphy Gorgeous! Change is hard but it is so constant it is better not to get hung up on things not changing. I could create a pretty big list but at the end of it would surely realize there is beauty in things changing too. :)... like my kids growing up! It's very bittersweet but it has to happen. Or summer ending, but without that occurring, there would be no fall. Or that... more »

co-existingif you could communicate w/any lifeform, what would you want to know, and from whom?

a fin's length of glass separates us from another world a flick of our tails brings us closer togetheryou taught us colors and voice signals, and you gave us free health carewe don't know what we can teach youbut we can show you that it is possible to coexist...

...as long as you feed us first. fun fact- whale sharks are filter feeders and they will not eat the other fish :)

co-existingif you could communicate w/any lifeform, what would you want to know, and from whom?

a fin's length of glass separates us from another world a flick of our tails brings us closer togetheryou taught us colors and voice signals, and you gave us free health carewe don't know what we can teach youbut we can show you that it is possible to coexist...

...as long as you feed us first. fun fact- whale sharks are filter feeders and they will not eat the other fish :)

+Serge Ivanov So it took me a while to gather my jaw from the floor after being blown away by the deep blue and million aquatic lifeforms...

As for your question...

Each life form seems to have its physical and biological limits, and what I really would want to know is if we are the only ones that dream of breaking them.

Birds enjoy incredible freedom of movement, but even so are ultimately trapped on this planet.I would probably ask a bird if it was aware of this, and if so, how it felt about it. I would want to know if the bird was aware of something beyond our atmosphere, or if it even cared at all. Somehow I suspect it would be far more interested in finding some food than philosophizing such things.

+Fabio Bucchieri I'd love to be able to communicate with trees and plants in general. I have this theory about all plants on earth being able to form a sort of network through their roots that could act like an interface via which they can share all kinds of information....if I was able to interact with them I would also want to feel the pain that they share when another tree (or a group of them) is destroyed.......I must now go and take my daily dose of antipsychotics... :)I love this post +shirley lo and the image is breathtaking!!

+anne-marie Janssen fabulous shot and good question! In general I like to observe the animals, but every time the geese fly over I wonder where they heading. I sometimes say it out loud. Their response is: "gak gak". ;-)

+Tim Behrens Such a beautiful photograph, and such a great question to go with it.

I think, in so many ways, that other lifeforms are communicating with us all the time. We just expect that, for something to resonate, it must be with words. Any question I could ask would be contrary to the power of simplicity, the all pervasive now, the instinctual drive to exist, and the ease with which most creatures do it.

If they could communicate with us, I think they would ask why we worry so much about the things we have no control over and stand by in ignorance of all the things we do, why we take so much more than we need while surrounded by others who need it more, and why is it that a species that spends so much of it's time pondering the future while forsaking the present is so blind to the what our disconnect from the world, and inability to live in harmony, will eventually bring.

Yet, in this picture, I see hope, peace, awakening... if we could just hang on to it when it wasn't right before us.

+James Merritt this is fantastic.I have no questions for other species but I have tons for my own

+Wes Lum +shirley lo first I would have to master this communicating with humans thing, but second on the priority list would be communicating with dogs! :)

I wish we didn't have to worry about feelings and people could communicate honestly without that fear. I wish people could not get hurt by honesty.

As far as what I would want to know from my dog? What he's thinking when he's looking at me waiting for something...then again, maybe it's better that I can't communicate so easily :)

+Mailis Laos so beautifulI would like to ask dolphins if any human have ever guessed right what they were saying.

honestly, +shirley lo, most of my questions stem from the fact that we wrap ourselves up in the cotton of our first person perspective. I wonder how much is learned habit, how much innate and how much can be short circuited.

I don't believe in the separation (gender, race, etc) most people tend to look on as fact and I find it disheartening when people divide themselves up in camps because they completely reduce their experiences. I'd like to see ego geography erode more.

+Dhopy Nepp I especially want to communicate with plants, mainly trees.I think they should have many things to teach ...

+pam kelso Sit quietly with them, blank your mind and a connection will form. In emergencies, although it sounds stupid, I've asked for my guardian angels to connect with theirs to help find out their needs in that moment. It always worked, but again, it does sound stupid and it's probably best not to do it out loud.

+Melody Migas Beautiful photo and post. Probably a dolphin from the gulf. I'd ask how they and their neighbors are really doing after the BP oil spill.

+Hans Huether Trees. They live longer then us naturally but not when it comes to industrially. They watch the same place all the time so they know the changes of that area more then anyone. They can tell us if over the years their photosynthesis process has changed with an increase in O2/CO2. :) Wow I sound like a Tree Huger...lol

+boo Jay I just wanna know why my dogs sniff each other's butts. I can think of much more hygienic ways to say hello.

+Meg Rousher Wonderful ImageI thought I'd like to ask an old living creature where it's been. Then I found out it's a tortuous and thought they move so slow I've probably been more places than it has. Then I thought maybe ask the oldest tree what it's seen & thought it's probably in the woods somewhere and hasn't seen much. Then I thought ask a creature from another planet what it's like out there in the universe and thought they don't talk to us just experiment on us & don't want any part of that. So I guess I'd want to talk with God and ask where he came from and how many universes there are.Another great question Shirley. Thanks for keeping our minds going :)

+PJ Ammidon You inspire such great communication with your posts! Amazing photos & thought provoking words. I just can't keep from giggling with this one though, because ... I'm thinking... do teenagers count as another lifeform? ;) Otherwise, I'd like to know what it feels like to glide through the air like a hawk.

+Stephen Zacharias Well I think +Wes Lum made a good point. I think many of us humans aren't even that great when it comes to communicating well with each other.

As for another life form that's really hard to say! I think we could so learn so much from a variety of them. I think perhaps I would have to say the majestic American Bald Eagle.

+Amine Yorke so magic vision and really emotive ! i wish i could comunicate with trees so I could earn more time by sharing some of my time with them ;) cheers, your photos are really beautiful ! +shirley lo

+Kyla Glaser ESQ. I think I would want to talk with humming birds and find out what each flower tastes like and which one tastes the best.

+Scott Mc This photo caught my attention right away. The scale, the silhouettes, the fish each keeping to their own schools, the dress, and the variety of species. It looks less like a couple at an aquarium and more like they are looking through a glass wall of the ocean. I’m not a photographer, just someone that was drawn in by this photo. Mesmerizing, thanks for the perspective.

+Victoria Gonzalez i'd like to talk to a blue whale. i imagine they're wise fellows.

+Lupe M. Luevano This is very awesome capture...Like the ocean was sliced open...It shows how small the human race is...... My communication is to human species.... Why can't you extend a little kindness to the people you come in contact with no matter in what type of contact...not necessarily charity... for that is easy to do... why not be open to your fellow human and not cocoon yourself in what you feel is your safe world... That little kindness could make a tremendous difference to the person you extend it to...And you would be surprised how it makes you feel good... Thank you +shirley lo for bringing this wonderful work..... : )

+Darryl Van Gaal Great question.I'll give the (what I think to be) most obvious answer. As a dog lover, I'd love to know exactly what they are thinking at any given time. We think (or at least I do) that I'm giving him what he needs, but you never know. As humans we assume a lot of things... and you know what happens when you assume!+Mark Esguerra Hmm, I think if I had to pick an animal to communicate with I'd pick a bird. Maybe a hawk or eagle. I'd love to hear their thoughts on how beautiful the view is from up there. ;-)

+Lavina Street the earth. and we would sit together and cry...

+Luke Storer I'd have to go with Trees as well, or buildings but they aren't strictly a lifeform they'd still have some pretty amazing stories to tell...

+Keith Dixon Aliens: and I would ask where the hell have you been, we need your help!!

+Chris Hoffmann Such a calm and peaceful scene! I'd love to speak with a turtle (leatherback, tortoise, or any other). They've been around for so long and seen many things, and still they manage to move slowly and thoughtfully in all that they do. I wish I was a little better at that! :)

+Michelle Torio Wow! Truly eye-catching photo...I love the blue and I'm in love with that gorgeous fish tank! :)Well, I'd like to talk with the bees, if I can, and find out what's buzzing around and know what it feels like to be 'busy as a bee'!

+Philipp Weimer I would simply love to see the world the way they do.

Feeling the wind under my wings... the colors of the sea, smelling the deer a mile away, or to see in darkness without using eyes.

We would treat them better then, I think.

OH and - once again, a marvelous picture you give us here :)

+Jerry Johnson Couldn't think of a better way of concluding my G+ day, then with a wonderful post and amazing photo from the talented and kind +shirley lo!

I would ask a whale if the ocean ever get's noisy to the point where it bothers them. Such wonderful animals.

+Benny Sjöstrand That's a beautiful view, and a very good question.I would like to speak with aliens from other planets, and I would ask what they know and think about us and our world.

+Rogier Rood First of all: this is an A m a z i n g picture!! Really beautiful! Now my thoughts that arise when looking at it:

It seems the fish need borders too. All same type of fish are swimming together with a imaginary border around themselves. I would like to ask them why. It probably has to do with survival. In this way the fish know what's next to them and what's going to happen, when and why.

Now I think about art: I think art tries to see things from a different angle. So imagine one yellow fish in a group of blue fish. Out of his comfort zone it sees things differently! It discovering and exploring a whole new world! It's able to contemplate on his own species. Then suddenly fear strikes, because the fish is not in survival mode. Will it's point of view be accepted by his own group? Or will he be threatened by the blue fish because they don't want him in their group?

Sometimes I feel this way. It's the risk of making art, exposing yourself in the way you see the world. Can art be made in a safer way then? I think not. It the process of real art that is inevitable to go through.

I like to hear to thoughts about it! :)

+Michael Menefee Two really great emotional appeals to me from this image: the connection and fascination with nature as exhibited by the couple enthralled by the fish; and secondly the story of love and sharing a day at the aquarium. All told through the simplicity of silhouette, no easy task. Very nice! ;-)

+Kirsten Bowers it is a compelling image, those 2 standing before that amazing subterranean world...I like how they are dwarfed by it too...the scale is fabulous!for me given i work with animals, mainly dogs...i would want to know what they are thinking, what they think of their interactions with the human world. I think there would be lots of different stories to tell! :-))

+Sumit Sen Oh! but they communicate all the time +shirley lo , just that we have not learnt to hear them. We are too new in this world compared to them, They have millions of years of evolution behind them They have been through all of it, seen it, endured it and flourished - changing as the environment demanded over hundreds and thousands of years. Till we arrived that is. We are in too much of a hurry, we want to change the earth ourselves. We want to control the sun, the wind and the water - and we want to do it yesterday. We don't have time to talk to them or listen to them. Heck, we have hardly have time to listen to our family! There was so much we could have learned from them if only we had the time!But back to your image. It is truly splendid. The scale and our own small presence reminds me that we are only one of the millions of species that inhabit this earth. If only we could learn to coexist with all of existence!

i'll try to translate it in english, (not able to find the author translation) :"Form who make being different does not matter if their thoughts join together to build an universe"

+黃少宇 美麗的海底世界:）

+Malaire Lexis All this would have not been possible without the architect of the univers...One whole univers, one planet earth giving to the children of man. God planed it that way..Adam in the garden of eden understood everything that the animals were saying to him, he was the one that gave them names. So we all were created to co-exist...The trees need their hydrogen and humans their and oxygen but both know that without water there won't be chlorophyl as a tree and no blood for human both life forms will suffer dehydration from the lack of an element that is crucial to their very existence, thus the term of "co-existing" becomes a must. Remember that created the whole world with love...And I really like the ideology of +mailis laos on this issue....My weapon is love...One love that is what the whole thing comes down to...I am looking forward for you to teach me a few words of your native language miss +shirley lo. Can we co-exist !!!

+John Freeman You have heard it be said that “Life is a Game”. But I say Life is a Serious Journey composed of many “Games”. The Game is a rest stop for whatever part of life you are “living within”. The key is to never believe that you can stay at that “rest stop” forever (your whole life). You have heard young boys say “I want to be a Professional Football Player” – and young girls say “I want to be a Nurse” – All games of life.

I say and have always said “I want to live my Journey” – So I have been in many different rewarding “games of life” but never became one of any particular Game. In other words I live the Journey of Life instead of a Game within Life - “A rest Stop”. Life is rewarding and when you know life you can communicate with all life by letting it exist in its world with the respect of love and the oneness of the Earth, and the Universe.

.................................................................................................+Peter Tsai Yes Atlanta is a cool place with lots of cool photo opportunities. If you go back, Little Five Points, Stone Mountain, Fernbank, and Piedmont Park are all good places to shoot. I went to middle school and high school there many memories. For example, here's what I shot the last time I went back: goo.gl/1GT12.................................................................................................+Rogier Rood What does art mean to you?

The quest continues... Can this picture be called art? Art, the way I like to define it:Nobody knows it for all, everybody feels it for themselves.Does that makes any sense? I keep searching to find the answer, if there is any. And I like to hear your thoughts about it!

What do you think about art? And what do you see in this picture, what does it do to you? Do you think it is a piece of art? I like to know, so please tell me!

My inspiration for this came from the biggest and greatest post I have seen so far on G+! Be sure to check out "co-existing" of +shirley lo over here: http://goo.gl/AliXjhttp://goo.gl/YZJA7.................................................................................................+Paul Simbeck-Hampson swam with these magnificient creatures in the open ocean.I spent many years teaching Scuba Diving in SE Asia. My first experience with a whale shark was in Thailand. On that particular dive we were at 30m surrounded by a swarm of jellyfish - not pleasant. Then she arrived, mouth open graciously gliding through the depths. I only got to see that particular Whale Shark (WS) for about 30-40 seconds, she was 10m above us. I instantly forgot all about the jellyfish, my natural reaction was to fin as hard as I could after her, which I did - on that day I was not quick enough and all I could do was watch her swim out of sight. Arriving later on the boat I'll never forget the sheer joy of having been in the same space of such beauty and elegance. From that moment on sharks, and particular, whale sharks became my passion.

A few months later, also in Thailand I was taking an overnight trip to the famous island of Koh Toa, near the island of Koh Samui. The trip was not fully booked and actually it was nearly cancelled. We were five on that trip, one French girl, two Israeli's, a Norwegian and myself. The two dives on the first day were nice, nothing out of the ordinary, but nice. That evening we grilled under the moonlight, drank a few glasses of local whisky and slept under the stars on the top canopy of the boat.

The morning dive was planned for 7am, a deep dive to 35m. The dive site was renowned within the instructor circles for WS sightings, although I'd been there often I'd never had any luck, some instructors had been hoping for years also with no luck! My group awoke late, recovering from one or two whiskies too many. At 7.30am we were kitted up and ready to dive. Another dive school was already moored at the site and had beaten us too it - I always liked to be first as you had a better chance to see bigger fish before they were scared off by humans in their space. My group had annoyed me a little as they had faffed around getting ready and no one was really that interested in diving!

As we descended I became aware of a group of divers huddled together in a circle some 50-100m away. They were completing their safety stop at 5m. It struck me as a little odd as they were so close to one another. I then looked in the direction they were looking and my eyes nearly fell out of my head! Two whale sharks. Mum and child. My regulator did fall out of my mouth as I stared in amazement. The protocol in this situation is for everyone to stay close together and observe quietly.

I gathered my little team together while watching the other dive school exit the water. I told my group to stay together and wait there, I'd be back in a moment or two - they nodded. The visibility, some 50-70m was fantastic, a deep dark blue - early mornings often gave the best clarity. The mother whale shark had retreat a little, she was around 5-7m in length, hard to be accurate at that distance, but large! The child was perhaps 4m and around 50m away. There was no land or island around we were in open water and at a depth of 10m. I left the group and begin slowly finning in her direction (to me she was a she, I can't be sure actually, but in my mind she was a she). I wasn't really sure what to expect next, but it was my instinct to say hello.

To my surprise she turned and started to also swim towards me, head on, mouth closed. When we were about 10m apart I stopped swimming and just hovered at around 15m. She also slowed down. Little by little we got closer until she made the first pass, the distance between us was perhaps 2m. I turned to watch her glide by. I then watched her turn and head back in my direction. This happened two or three times, each time I sat (hovered in a sitting like position) still and smiled at her. On the fourth occasion as she swam close I reached out a hand and stroked the length of her body - pure silk. She did not flinch or react badly, so I guess she liked it - she always had an eye on me - she had big eyes!

Feeling more confident that she was also enjoying the experience I waited until she passed again and this time I latched on to her side fin, holding on gently, I looked over her fin so she could see me, our eyes met, she was looking back at me. We glided slowly along for 40-50m - it was amazing. I looked at my watch and noticed I was now at 30m, my group was still huddled together. It was time to leave her. I let go and finned back to the group. The baby whale shark moved back towards her mum who had been watching the entire time - I'm sure with a little bit of anticipation for her baby! I signalled for the group to descend with me to 35m. We landed on the sand at the bottom and I just lay there with a huge grin on my face staring at the surface. Both whale sharks could be seen above us swimming freely.

After the allotted time, 10mins or so, we slowly started to make our way towards the surface. Again, Mum kept her distance, but baby was not finished with us - she even seem to know that we had to spend time in shallow water. We hovered around 7m, then 3m for as long as we all had air. The baby whale shark swam around us freely, everyone was able to stroke her gently, it was a very magical moment. As others began to run out of air they surfaced. I was last out of air and spent the last 5-7 minutes alone with my new friend. We had many eye-contact moments, we really connected with one another. No words were spoke, of course, but we had the most deep and meaningful conversation I've ever had with any creature on the planet - it was a purity that is seldom found amongst humans.

Eventually my air was gone - with one final stroke and a little wave I said goodbye. As I surfaced I'll never forget the noise that awaited me. It was like being at a world cup final. We cheered, we hugged, we laughed, we were the luckiest people on the planet that morning and we knew it. As I write these words, which I have to say I've not done before (so thanks for asking), a tear is in my eye and my heart is glowing. Now you know why the picture of a whale shark in a fish tank makes me feel a little queezy!

My love for the underwater world took me all over Asia, I followed the Whale shark trail to the Philippines and met up with them at their annual gathering place; a 50-60 whale shark gathering! No diving was allowed, but snorkelling was ok. I've dived with many different types of sharks and never once felt threatened, and although one could say I was lucky, I would say it was more a karma thing - they seemed to know I was there to learn from them and not there to disturb them, it seemed to put them at ease.

Currently my profession is consultancy, innovation, design, brand, data & learning technology. All that I learnt from my friends underwater I apply to helping humans connect better. I try to help bridge the gap of culture through better acceptance and understanding of our differences and importantly our similarities - the creatures of the sea were my best teachers - I thank them daily for the lessons they taught me. http://goo.gl/AliXj

+shirley lo wow, your post was even more enjoyable to read with the interspersing photos as well as your thought processes between our correspondences! :) i've included your blog post link into the post so that in all the shares of my photo, everyone can see your wonderful stories :)

the poem was written from the point of view of the whale shark, and was implicitly encouraging the reader to perhaps think from different points of view, including the shark's mind and imagine how he might feel. so you responded exactly the way i hoped some people would :) i couldn't help but know that it was being held in captivity and might not have been happy being there. i asked the staff about how the sharks might feel, and from what i understand, the aquarium inspires visitors to learn more about conservation and appreciate the beauty of the ocean, which in turn raises awareness and may perhaps save more of these creatures. there are even some purists that are against scuba diving as it disturbs the environment, and may mislead the creatures to possibly detrimental assumptions about human contact based on past experiences. however, we can all probably agree that these creatures deserve to be happy. hopefully through dialog and appreciation, we can all help more creatures to understand each other :)

+Paul Simbeck-Hampson Thank you for adding the link to the post and I'm pleased that the post came to life in way you liked. Sometimes pictures can help a story, as I'm sure you'll know, sometimes it's nice to let the mind create the pictures - ah, did I mention I'm also a photographer? A portrait photographer - possible one of the most (in) famous English photographer's here in Germany (actually the only one, doing what we do) - we have one of the most unusual photo businesses you could ever imagine - remind me to tell you all about it one day, I'm sure you'll love this story too :)

I liked your poem. I like it even more that I know the intent you had. To be really honest, I need to revisit the post now that I've done my 'save the Whale Shark' thing and really appreciate it what it for what your were expressing. In between I've skimmed your previous posts here on G+ and realised that I'm talking to a most wonderfully creative person - your posts add a new dimension in terms of quality, thoughtfulness and finesse - super!

If you'd really like to know, I think the Whale Sharks are absolutely fine where they are, but don't tell everyone. I don't think their consciousness allows them to question and I like that they have friends who are for sure fun to play with - even though I played it more along the lines of 'wow, three of them, that's not good' - It is only we as humans who are able to delve so deeply - they are fine and well looked after and as with many elements of nature, serving is often the highest reward.

However, this should not become a fad with every aquarium demanding to have such large creatures in tanks, especially my favourite one ;) - and I totally agree with your considered argument about divers. The truth be known, I was very naughty, and should never have engaged with the Whale Shark, those of us in the profession know this, but we also know how hard it is to resist the pull to be closer to nature. I'm well studied in the underwater world, and realise I disturbed the ecosystem, possibly for the worse - but on a deeper level - we did what both came very naturally to us - which is also important - I guess what I'm trying to say is, as with nature itself it's a fine balance.

You closing sentences resonate and I'd only like to add the word compassion to the mix - people should be as compassionate as much as they can, to as many as they can, for as long as they can.

+Elle D'Coda Submerged in the depths of "work" activity, reading your story was like surfacing to catch a breath of fresh air. The sheer majesty of such moments isn't meant to be kept "behind glass" either...it's the soul of story and essential nourishment. I'm quite sure there's a whale shark version of it being told in the high seas to this day. So glad you freed this tale."

+Asa Gislason I thoroughly enjoyed his narrative and photos. And yes, they were the luckiest people on the planet that morning (if not any morning), what a wonderful experience this must have been, what a great privilege. Thank you both :-)﻿___

we have a talented bunch on g+! :) (expand post to see everyone's special talents!)they say don't judge a book by its cover, nor a bird by its color.oftentimes, what makes us special is not immediately discernible.what if we could see everyone's inner selves readily? :)+Charles Lu.........................................................................................................we have a talented bunch on g+ ! :)

+Ron Bearry I have studied the martial arts for many years. I earned my black belt in Kenpo Karate in 1992. I've learned many things about myself (and motivation) along the way. I've learned that a person can accomplish anything they wish as long as they are willing to work for it! I once participated in tournaments for fun b... more »

shake your tail feathers!

what are your hidden talents?

we have a talented bunch on g+! :) (expand post to see everyone's special talents!)they say don't judge a book by its cover, nor a bird by its color.oftentimes, what makes us special is not immediately discernible.what if we could see everyone's inner selves readily? :)+Charles Lu.........................................................................................................we have a talented bunch on g+ ! :)

+Ron Bearry I have studied the martial arts for many years. I earned my black belt in Kenpo Karate in 1992. I've learned many things about myself (and motivation) along the way. I've learned that a person can accomplish anything they wish as long as they are willing to work for it! I once participated in tournaments for fun but I don't do that now. One of the things I learned had to do with the process of learning itself. When I was much younger I didn't learn very well. While studying the Martial Arts, I came across some excellent teachers that helped me to understand that everyone learns differently and that each person has to find out how they learn and understand things. After that discovery, I decided that I can learn anything I want!﻿

+Kathryn Brown - I am an expert four leaf clover finder. Have found literally hundreds in my lifetime - in high school, I found one for every person in my grade (84 people, small school!) and gave them out at exam time. It's not something that fits easily on the resume, but does come in handy when you need something to brighten a friend's rotten day! :) I do get a feeling when there's one around, but there's no one setting that's better for them than any other. However, once you find a 4 leafer in a particular spot, that plant has a higher percentage chance of yielding future ones, so I make note of them when finding one and return every so often. For example, most of the ones from high school I mentioned in the post above came from a single large field in VA that unfortunately has since been developed. But even those plants only have a few that are four leafers - I recently transplanted two plants which I've been picking from for years here in LA, and they've only produced two new four leaf clovers so far, the rest are regular three leafers.Stumbled upon this talent early in life when I used to spot them while riding my horse through fields. If you can spot them at a trot, finding them on the ground is easy! ;)

And to share my talents...- More serious: Pianist :) You can catch some of my piano-playing videos at goo.gl/WVdBW and some of my older compositions at goo.gl/7Mvjq

- Less serious: Cheek percussionist. I am one of the few people in the world who can bang out fairly pitch-accurate and varied tunes by lightly slapping my (face!) cheeks with my hands. No, no YouTube videos. I have a reputation to protect :D﻿

+Matthew Neason The spots of the peacock resemble innumerable eyes, each equally beautiful and each searching within those enamored by their beauty. Searching for the beauty that lies beyond the darkness. I wonder why beauty, not lust, but beauty transfixes us so? Perhaps our soul finds a match in the physical world, and when gazing upon something real that reflects the inner self, we become more connected with our collective conscious. The beautiful blue eyes can see the soul we pin down within us, the slave of our flesh and the saving grace of humanity. Maybe our talents, however impractical, are the only other means of portraying the marvelous essence of the soul upon one another. Nature's beautiful, yet false eyes, freeing the brave, reckless gods within us all.﻿

+Jerry Johnson this is yet another fascinating post and the photo is superb! I will ask you to forgive me for not shaking my tail feathers though, as I didn't want to hurt my back! :-)Hidden talent... Hmmm... I would have to say that I remember peoples faces very well for some reason. If I have had even a brief interaction with you, I will remember your face for years. I don't know why this is, but it has been there most of my life. As I've gotten older, I have learned to be selective in approaching people in airports or other public locations to figure out why I remember their face, because it can freak them out if I am not careful (too many stalkers in the news). But unfortunately the names don't always come along with the faces!!

+PJ Ammidon I'd say one of the most useful talents I've developed in the past few years is doing medical research on the internet. Unfortunately, out of necessity, I've had to research several rare diseases and help those I love decide on treatment plans. From brain cancer, breast cancer, blood cancer to degenerative brain disease, rare diseases are particularly difficult for those that have them. There is often no clear choice for treatment and the decision about how to proceed often lies squarely on the patient's shoulders. It's unfortunate that the information about new treatments does not trickle down to local doctors for years. Thankfully, the information is out there... if you can find it.﻿

+Tim Behrens - I have an innate ability to recognize a great picture when I see it. I recognized this one right away. :)I'm not as good at it as I used to be, but I've been told I can be a calm in the storm. I'm fairly soft spoken and good at maintaining a peaceful air in stressful situations. Not always true, but it's something I still strive for.

+Margaret Tompkins I support animal shelters. It's not a "hidden" talent but it's not real public either. I'm more of a "behind-the-scenes" kind of person. I'm creating a G+ page for the Brown County Humane Society to see if we can help find forever homes for all those dogs and cats that need them. I love the posts that have already been made! You are so right Shirley that G+ people are VERY talented!!

+John Hauxwell I can put the letters in candy rock :)﻿Oh it was years ago +shirley lo Used to work in a sweet factory. Made lettered rock for various seaside towns around the UK and elsewhere. Blackpool, England made their own, but we used to make it for Blackpool in Australia!﻿

+Aaron GTV with my band "Omni-" i play Ambient Rock, but by myself i play this:this is a song i wrote called "Since i Met You"Since i Met You "Live" acoustic video recordingand a cover of the song "Iris" goo.gl/mJoWY

+Robert SKREINER I can communicate with animals, specifically dogs, cats, horses and birds, because I love all animals. So I understand the true nature, or rather, I have learned to understand the nature and admire. This is also reflected in my photos. goo.gl/vVWC9 goo.gl/745j1 goo.gl/yHj4v

+Amanda Torbitt Hi +shirley lo! Beautiful photo! I love the colors and the close up detail. ^^ Great question too.Hidden talents... Empathy maybe? I'm always sensitive towards others emotions, which isn't always a good thing because I can find myself angry for example without it really being my anger(emotions can be contagious)... lol. But it's also useful in some ways to, helps me to help people which I love to do. I also forgive pretty easily. I'm better at listening than talking. So much of my talents lie in the emotional rather than otherwise. I'm okay in drawing and art related stuff, but I've yet to find what I'm exceptional at in that area. I also like trying new things. :)If I can bring peace and happiness to people, it's one thing that gives me joy. I like to draw all sorts of things, buildings/still-life, dogs, anime/cartoon like people, other things too though those are some examples. I may post some on Google+ someday. :) I want to try pottery sometime soon. I just now tried a mango fruit(I have only had mango drinks before but not the fruit), and it was good. I will probably try the new "Sobe Water with coconut water" sometime, as I keep wanting to like coconut water for some reason, lol. :)Currently I'm trying out a new website called Day Zero (goo.gl/3yJJe ). It's interesting so far, and seems good for goals with or without a set time limit. My list on there is here- goo.gl/GSsVV, if you want to see it. ^^﻿

+Serge Ivanov Fantastic color and detail +shirley lo! I have no idea how I missed this one. I think every post you make feels like a treat for all of us :) Hidden talents... My talents are so hidden that even I haven't discovered them yet! On a more serious note, I believe that I am a pretty good listener. It sounds simple enough, but apparently isn't that common. It doesn't feel like a talent because generally I am just genuinely interested in what people have to say. I find it hard not to relate in some way with someone.﻿

+Tsegaye Hidru - This is interesting, +shirley lo. Peacock looks so beautiful.Hidden talents: Huh! I don't know what to say. I may edit this post/comment when I remember them all :) I have excellent reflex. I'm so quick that I don't drop things. E.g. I have a record of not losing a bar of soap in the shower. :) Plus, great memory. I remember words, people, actions, etc

+John Orr +shirley lo I try to always be conscious of others feelings and try to be as unselfish as I can. Being human it is a daily struggle but one I am happy to take on.﻿

+Toshi Lin - Hidden talents? Interesting! ^^I don't know if this is a talent...I feel some of my friends would like to share their secrets with me, especially those secrets they dare not to talk to any other one in the world. Probably not just some...Another one...I don't know if it's a talent either...I didn't get mad for about 7.5 years. Yea...I think I am very calm most of the time. No, I don't do yoga nor tai chi. But I read a lot of Osho, also I like 莊子(Zhuangzi). Probably that's one of the reasons? Your questions are very interesting. I sometimes raised some questions on my facebook too. For example: What is self-confidence? What is the source of self-confidence? Do you "know" yourself?(self-recognition) What is the sense of security?(in relationship, life, etc.) Have you ever found security in any of your relationships? What is optimism? What is passion? ... etc. Most of the time I feel many people are suffering from these questions. That's why I raised them for my friends. :))

Zhuangzi was born around 369 BCE. A Taoist, the philosopher. His book also named Zhuangzi(or Nanhua Zhenjing) is one of the greatest two Taoist texts(the other one is Laozi：Tao Te Ching 老子：道德經). The following link you can see the English version of Zhuangzi: goo.gl/dFDVuOsho talks about many religions. And also about life. The following link(a pdf file) is one of his books...talking about the stories of Zhuangzi. goo.gl/Inosc Other books of Osho can be found here: goo.gl/lBgzt

+Serena Ruiz I love peacocks, just rich colors! MY Hidden talent is I can draw well. I have been drawing since I was a kid and somewhere between high school and today, I gave it up to get a "real life" I had been to New York and California over that span of years and I saw many talented artists selling their very talented work on the streets. This worried me, because I am a shy person so I could end up like this just because I can not make connections or sell my work, because I do not speak up. So I got a job, traveled and then went back to college and studied English and History. ... AND now venture into another passion of mine, Photography!

+Robby Bowles Since you posted this +shirley lo, I've been trying to think of what my hidden talents are and realize that my hidden talents are actually not hidden on google+. My hidden talent in my life, everywhere except here on google+ is my photography. All though, this is becoming less and less the case.

+Yasmin Simpson Sorry +shirley lo for commenting until now. You really are a sweetheart with these posts. I have been trying to find my hidden talents and I really cannot find something, you are helping my brain to think more than usual, lol. I guess all my talents are "public" like photography and dance and for the ones that don't know me very well, I am a perfectionist and love order in all the ways and places.Thank you... :-) The kind of dance that I like the most is almost everything. My childhood and youth was full of activities, for 15 years I practiced rhythmic gymnastics and I wish I could return to those times, later on I became a professional jazz-modern dancer... Now a days, I do Zumba (all kind of latin and modern dance). I'm still enjoying dance and music like crazy and I love the fact that I am exercising and I really don't feel it in this way. At rhythmic gymnastic,I was only a national competitor and as a jazz dancer I danced for a while and later on I was a jazz instructor. In other topic, I really love the fact to see and know more about you at FB, what a privilege to see the beautiful "girl" (young woman) that you are (in&out) and your lovely husband. Thank you sweet-sweet +shirley lo, as always admiring all the lovely things that you create at google+, what a job!. God Bless you both guys.﻿

+Denis Labelle +shirley lo : found out about this post via +Louis Gray.1. Coaching (Olympic/sport and in general)2. Visual art (I designed an Olympic medal)3. Leading/lobbying (Co-founded and developed the Int'l Triathon Union and the sport of triathlon around the world. Now, an Olympic sport)Thanks for asking. Cool initiative!﻿

+Charles Lu : now, I'm an Olympian 2.0 ;) > hub.olympic.org

I wish I could cook and play the piano like you. From now on, I will call you "Charles, the Biathlete". :)﻿

+Liz ℚuilty Hidden talents - I have lots! Everyone thinks im great at tech, and i am, but i have many other talents. I love to cook, and i even run a recipe website which i generally do not advertise. I love to sew, i trained as a machinist but decided that fashion was not my thing. I still often will sew things from scratch, and made my own camera bag the size/shape i wanted for dirt cheap! I lost 80kg (about 170lb) so i could donate a kidney for my brother, After this i trained to be a personal trainer just so i could help others :) I did build my Tardis Ukulele and post that one though :D (though it was wood)﻿Yep it has blinky lights inside, the whole thing is here goo.gl/zTcqN

+Charles Lu unfortunately my kids see me cook and it looks easy, so they never watch their food cooking, walk away and burn it. they have no idea how to cook :/﻿

+Александр Лапенко I try to do all my side of life (work, family and others) with the most harmonious. But now my talent consist of feeling that this harmonious can be reach. And everyday I try to found a bridge from the feelings, dreams and ideas to the real life. And it will be open my hiding tallent. Shirley lo - thank you for chance to give some thought

+anne-marie Janssen - Fabulous photo! This is such a beautiful bird. I hope to find a feather one day! A hidden talent is something that I have to discover yet or maybe others will see it before I do. Just hope they will tell me :-Dand those birds can scream like crazy haha.. Coincidence or not.... I like to collect feathers! But live music and traveling abroad are my 2 big passions. I would die without it!! And what are yours, besides coming up with the greatest posts, questions and bringing people together??!! :-D

haha...you just made me laugh with your enthusiasm for dancing. When traveling I have to have a goal. So I check most music festivals in Europe or North America, pick one and fly off :D It's going to be a round trip in the States and Canada this time. Here's a link to one of my feathers in scrapbook goo.gl/EpWXI Thanks for your wonderful post +shirley lo

+Jun C - Hidden talent... hmm, I dunno if my talent is hidden now since I've shared this on here before... but, people are surprised when they hear me play the piano... I don't play as much as I used to, so I lost a lot of dexterity... I also used to be able to hear a song and then play it on piano from memory... my ear isn't as good as it used to be but I can still do that... just not as quickly anymore...BTW, beautiful bird and capture! :)...i don't have perfect pitch! I wish i did... well, sometimes! from my friends who do have perfect pitch, it sounds like it could be curse sometimes... my relative pitch was very good tho... my fav pieces to play were ragtime (Scott Joplin) or baroque pieces... as for videos of my playin, i don't have anything good... so, i'd rather not share! ;)﻿+Heinz Udo Zemlin - Ein schöner Pfau . Mein Opa hatte zwei davon . Mein Talent ? Wenn ich einen Fehler mache , gebe ich es zu . Dann schwäche ich den Fehler ab . Nach einer Weile relativiere ich den Fehler . Zum Ende entschuldigen sich die Menschen bei mir . Ist das ein Talent ? Ich glaube es ist gemein . Aber es macht Spaß .(google translate) A beautiful peacock. My grandfather had two of them. My talent? If I make a mistake, I admit it. Then I weakness on the error. After a while I trivializing the problem. At the end, people apologize to me. Is that a talent? I think it's common. But it's fun.

+Margie D Casados - I would say, being sensitive and emphatic, which tends to allow me to truly appreciate the people around me. Now that my parents have transitioned, I really treasure those insightful moments even more,.. when you feel close to someone, when you feel that special connection, and you enjoy just simply being alive. :) +shirley lo you too are very kind and very insightful. You can sense the depth of awareness, that is one of your many talents. It's shows from the incredibly beautiful photos and your expressiveness of what you share. You are a very gifted person. :)

+Lupe M. Luevano - HI +shirley lo I am taking a break from G+ right now, but it is always a privilege to come to your postings and participate in your questions. The above image is very beautiful.If I could see others hidden talents readily I would be able to assist people around me faster where they would be happier, where it would be my power to do so.I feel I am blessed with two hidden talents, that I have had to use many times in my Life. First one is when in a emergency situation, I can see what needs to be done immediately and and what order, and deal with it, and my second what I call a blessing is that I can usually see or read between the lines when someone needs to be heard due to inner torment or just needs a shoulder to lean on. Thank you, Shirley. Take Care.

+D. DeMonteverde - Hi +shirley lo! Thanks for another wonderful post and thought provoking question! Hidden talent? Hmmm... well, I make great-tasting creamed vegetable soups without the cream (a yummy way to eat veggies). instead of cream, I add a medium sweet potato for my creamed soups (carrot, cauliflower, asparagus). I like to use the Japanese variety sweet potato, the kind with the almost purple skin. If you like to cheat a little, you can add 1/2 cup of non-fat half and half (and yes, there's such a thing) but I no longer do and it's ok. I got the tip about using sweet potatoes from someone who had this soup in Scotland.Also, in the past you'd probably find me in the last row in dance class. Now I've inched up to the front. I wonder if that means I have a budding talent here? btw, this is a spectacular picture ~ and so close up to the peacock I can almost touch it!

+Elena Konstantinova - Trying to figure out, but I think they ( my talents) are hidden so well ...I love doing many things, but still haven't reveal any special talents in anything:like reading, like to edit videos that I shot ( more correct is to say "to learn to edit videos"), also trying to learn to program a little bit by myself and enjoying this, I can say my friends like my cooking, but I can't say I love to cook. I love my friends and can be a real friend I think. .... not so much, is it ?

+Shannon Adelson What a fantastic post +shirley lo and such a wonderful way to better get to know the people in our circles! I guess one of my hidden talents that most people don't know about me, is that I am the domestic one in our household, equally adept at cooking, cleaning, party planning, etc. I love hosting events, and getting friends together to goof off and let loose!﻿

+Christian Louw Pedersen - My hidden talent is to hide my talent. ... Oh!! I just revealed it! ;-)Well thank you +shirley lo !! I won't hide that I used to be quite good on the piano, but my truly hidden talents are ... ... hidden! ;-)Jazz, blues, rock, folk, funk ... you name it! I composed, transposed, improvised, played concerts, recorded, and I was also teaching. BTW: I like your peacock!!

+Benny Sjöstrand Beautiful photo, amazing colours and details!!That's a very interesting question, my hidden talents are still left to be discovered, or they would not be hidden(?).I used to play the guitar for many years, I remember my music teacher one time told me: there is no such things called 'talent', it's all about tons of hours practising and not giving up. That may be true for almost everything in life.

+Ajeesh Kumar nice post +shirley lo :) nice pic too...i guess i don't exactly know what my talent is. i may have just developed some for my life, career, or passion... yeah, also there may be inherited ones also, as every human has.. the most precious gift is the ability to develop talents, i think, isn't it? :)

+james mercer I have a talent that has allowed me to experience the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and all points in between. It is the talent of wanting to grow into a fully functioning human. I am on G+ and other social media for growth does not take place in a vacuum, and a student does not learn without a teacher (I until death will be the student). I will share observations made. The other way my talent is expressed is in Oversimplification never take something simple and make it complex. And the belief system that Homo sapiens is what we all start out as, with time, body, and mind to develop. Everything else is a tool to accomplish objective. No good or bad, either adds to or take away from...My uncle use to have a couple of these birds. Have you ever seen p-hen very plain. Got me to thinking. Homo sapiens is one of a few species where the female spend more time looking good than the male﻿

+Joe Vallee - Hidden talents, hmmI've been told my fudge was the best they've ever had......... by more than a few people. ;-)(a couple hundred pieces were consumed at the LA Photowalk)BTW +shirley lo GREAT SHOT!

+Daniel Chen - Wow, I always love how colors pop in your photos!Talent wise, hmm, I think I'm a pretty good cook. Some of the things I can make pretty well include pumpkin cheesecake, Thai spicy eggplant salad, and Latino chicken rice. It's good to have a few signature dishes, especially when you decide to host a dinner party at the last minute and need to come up with a menu fast :) I do have my better food photographs (though only a few of them are dishes I made) posted on my site here: goo.gl/BokKvAnd I am pretty good at planning trips, trips that adhere to some kind of schedule that is :) (in response to a challenge to plan a disney trip and hit every ride) Hehe, that sounds like a challenge I might enjoy. I'll have study maps and all the rides, so I can put down the itinerary , I mean, ride schedule in an Excel spreadsheet :)

+Bill Murray - I am not sure what you want..but.. here goes:In many things I find peace and beauty..so in art it is an expression of the essentials of peace and beauty..I paint in many ways,on many things with many topics..the expression of "art" in cooking intrigued me..so I cook with sight,sound aroma,taste,and presentation..I makes for a great dining experience..I craft in many ways as well..The pieces that move thru my hands..come from leather bone ,bead..fur..homemade paints/dyes..clothes,bags tools of all kinds..and each comes alive ..in their presentation and exquisit functionality...This is me shaking my feathers..Thank You..

To answer your question about the 2 words ("Wado,Waste'" and "MigWeitch")...one is cherokee,it means thank you...the other is "L " dialect Lakota..and it also means thank you....They are salutations ..used in "Public speak"..and some or most all of the Languages of the 1st People..are Spiritual in nature..and they usually have a female and a male language..spoken in community..There are some that have a 3rd language..mostly developed for the Outworld experience..and it has no spirit..like the english language..Thank You for asking...Wado,Waste'

I enjoyed this..and the pics I put up today are a beginning of work I am writting for college..so I hope all enjoy them..They are shared from many people..and will have a profound effect on many..I hope..Good sharing and chattin' with you..Bill﻿

+Víktor Bautista i Roca - I make beautiful string (cat's cradle) figures.Although sometime i've put some of them in a frame, to give as a gift, it's just the traditional ancestral art. An example could be: goo.gl/vwiAk

+Bruce Tran - He is quite colorful! Great shot!Hidden talent, well I guess it would have to be not getting lost. I can go to place/city and still remember that location few years down the road.

+tom ruggi hmm..i guess i am a jack of all trades, master of none.:) i think my true talent lies in helping people arbitrate things, bring people and sides together..

+Harit Doshi - beautiful pic. my hidden talent is that i can inspire myself and others and be positive all the time. i can easily learn and understand new things. this things have helped me to learn many things in arts and science and am like jack of all the trades. but i want to be master of one or many. professionally i am a software engineer and web programmer but i am also a photography enthusiast and good at sketching and drawing.

+Mark Esguerra As much as I'd like to tell you that my mustache can reach out independently and snatch food for me like an elephant, I don't think I have any hidden talents. He he. Unless of course +1'ing photos is a talent. ;-P﻿

+Melissa Beagle What a great idea +shirley lo! Hmmm. . mine is whistling. I can whistle most any tune. . . and tend to whistle when I'm happy.﻿

+Eddie K - I am a great consumer +shirley lo, haha...Everything +shirley lo. Or I make really great attempts at it. That's my talent.

+leonard mckee My hidden talents are only hidden because i choose to not show them. I can play any instrument(not real well maybe). I used to take my old banjo to nursing homes and just sit and play for a bit. Just for fun and thier enjoyment. I guess I'm just lazy.﻿

+Ralph Mendoza - Fantastic colors. Great capture. Did it take a long time to get this moment?Thanks +shirley lo. I think I listen well though my wife my disagree....lolHidden talent? Hmmmm, have to think about that one

+John Wesche - I love movies (all kinds) and I can remember and quote from movies I have only seen once, even if it was some years ago

+Valentin Dobroia - I am very good in organize trips and travels and in make exotic fruits salad :) The next scheduled trip is in Corfu Island in september, but until then can occur unplanned trips :). my spcial fruits salad contains a watermelon cut in half, in each half are removed the seeds and in this cavity we put honney, banana, apple, berrys and all the fruits you like. Then with a spoon we mix the core of watermelon with the rest of the fruits and his is the salad :)

+Charles Lu - I can make killer crab cakes and play the piano at the same time

+Chris Hoffmann - I can make a killer chicken soup (...while singing, +Charles Lu ;). Such an amazing image, Charles and +shirley lo!I will try to sing anything. Right now, Adele is at the top of my list, but I also like to sing other pop songs as well as classical and show tunes, etc. I have a deep love for and appreciation of all music. :)

+shirley lo I sang publicly for many years (mostly locally) throughout my childhood and teen years, then abruptly stopped at 18 for a number of reasons. I've since sung only a handful of times in front of a crowd and I've never yet recorded myself singing. I have no reasons why, and often think about it. Maybe eventually I will find the courage to try again. :)

+Tisha Craw - Great shot, +shirley lo! I have no hidden talents. Everyone knows how fabulous I am. ;)

+Luis Alberto - Probably it is the plastic arts and the music. I refer to the plastic arts as the oil paint, and to listen to music, already it does a time it was employed at programs of radio, nowadays I am trying to produce a group music.

+Gabriel Hilbert - i do not know and consider them very little, but i fancy art in all forms, especially expression of self-thought. i love poetry and thought, with a side of drawing and carving, but have never made a dime. and you dear shirley lo?

I can only dance with too much to drink, but i love music in almost every form and to me it is the ultimate in self-expression. thank-you so much shirley lo.

+Jorge Gutiérrez - That is a really good shoot! and well i think i can draw realistic things without references.... and stay awake for days :Si like the human body for all my practices (color, texture, volume...) and some fantasy things like warriors, princes, and so... xDI just need music, some work to do (or some game to play ಠ_ಠ) and +Coca-Cola xD

+Philipp Weimer - Oh well, I can make some fantastic sourdough chocolate muffins :)I hope I remember to post some next time I make them :)

+Jason Thompson - Great question. Finding solutions.

+Tim Behrens - +Elena Konstantinova, seems like the little things can be what others appreciate the most. I'd say being a real friend is huge.

+Anderson Santiago JR - i am a grate Rollerblade. i skating all around city find new doing.

+Timothy Soloman - The Peacock is said to be the Bird of King Soloman. Beautiful iare the works of Nature

+Richard Hay - Peacocks are dudes +shirley lo and Peahens are rather plain. Just trying to get a boy to wear a peacock outfit for Halloween though. My daughter wore one a couple years ago (awesome). I played trumpet & french horn for 17 years

+Jon Gauntt - In most things in life I am a Generalist. I can generally pick up something new and do well at it and even pick up skills needed to assist with it in pretty quick order. What I have never been able to determine is what I am exceptional at. My father told me when I was younger that I could do anything I wanted. I believed him... still do. However, I did not learn how to go from learning how to do things to excelling at them.I tend toward artistic things (and take after my mother in this). Singing, Guitar, Writing, Drawing, Drafting, Imaginative Invention (more for my writing, because most things like this would not work in this world, but it's fun to create), Chainmail (from jewelry to stainless steel), Cross Stitch, Games with Roleplay (face to face, pen and paper), Photography (black and white developing on up to iPhone4s - currently no DSLR, but I'm working on it), Art Design, Voracious Reader, Bonsai, Computer Repair (though my day job keeps the need for doing this for others to a minimum), Console and Online Gaming, etc.My hobbies are cyclical in nature and can come and go quickly. Often either time or space is limited by someone or something else. Currently my time is occupied most often by my wife's Grandfather who has Alzheimer's and Dementia (and as of a month ago a broken hip). We moved both her grandparents and her mother into our house in November. I have learned that I have vast reserves of patience (though sometimes I have to vent about her mother).I once heard that if you practiced something (in this case a musical instrument) for an hour every day for five years you would have mastered it. I don't know if that is technically true, as it may just teach you that you have gotten proficient enough to see how vast the sea of knowledge is that lies before you. I have not followed through with this in many areas of my life. I do not know if that is a blessing or a curse. For one I am not specialized in one thing to the exclusion of everything else in my life. I am also flexible enough that if something catches my fancy, I can pick it up and enjoy the learning experience. As long as I am learning something new, I feel that I am alive. I hope the day never comes where either I don't enjoy learning anymore or that I have focused so much on one thing that I use it all up and have nothing more to learn about it. And someday, when it is all said and done, if I have tried a thousand things and have only developed patience, it will be enough.

+John Freeman - Hello, I feel my hidden talent lies in the ethereal part of life's mysteries.I can look and see something; a photo, an image, or an entity and immediately know the most positive things or parts and the most negative things or parts but only comment on those that are positive. So I guess my failure or state is never seeing the middle ground. I know that is both all and nothing simultaneously yet I focus upon the positive in hopes of amplifying that and minimizing the negative. Also I use to be a better scientist than now but it still remains a strong part of my cognitive set. Thank You Shirley for allowing me to share my inner being with you through this site and you gentle insight of beauty. You are Love

+Tsunyu Chou - If I have any hidden talent, then it is truly hidden. Beautiful peacock, so vivid and glamorous.

+Dhopy Nepp It may sound pretentious, but I have the talent to see beauty where others see nothing.﻿

+Zafrul Karim My hidden talent: I am a great boss. People who have worked for me in the past, have not found a better work-place or better boss afterwards.﻿

+Duff Ashfox Talent? They say I "radiate". I think that qualifies. ^^

+Mari Sterling Wilbur Stunning colors and great photo of this showoff +shirley lo I'm great at listening to people and making them feel good about themselves.

+Christian Reyes - My not so hidden Tashkent is the ability to recognize how truly finite it's the time that I have available to love those around me.

+Romeo Deka I don't have any hidden talents, only simple curiosity.

+Joy Harrison - My hidden talent is that I know how to use positive things (music, art, poetry, baking) to soothe myself during personal turmoil.

+Brian Thompson I CURSH cans my hand i do them of you tube too beebee890

+Josh Vosick My special hidden talent is I can force my pupils to dilate and I can make fart sounds with my neck

+John Soo-Hoo My special talent is to be able to reconize 70-90's TV/movie. Quotes or theme song.

One of my favorite quotes from "Highlander: The Series""A couple of Medieval songwriters come up with the idea of Chivalry one rainy day and you embrace it as a lifestyle. You live and die by a code of honor that was TRENDY when you were a kid."

"Chivalry"Most of the shows are action adventure that have a hero character. The ones I enjoyed most are where the hero is reluctant and has flaws.﻿

+Gustavo Mesa García focus on the meaning of the title :) everybody hidden the best talents = why?

If i got any .. they come and go & they´re mixed, so, i don´t know what to say.... maybe these "talents" are hidden even 4 me! l:)﻿

+Kamel Ezzat My talents because I'm not a real hidden first type II hair like tennis Thirdly, I love the very practical researcher in the science of poultry Fourthly love of nature created by God so loved the trips and other ........... Thank you very much... Sweet shirley lo﻿

+Manoj Roy hidden talents?? talent itself is a rare phenomenon in my life, let alone hidden 1s.....but yeah....if i'd to speak of @least 1 then.......my friends say i've this amazing talent of pissing them off and i should give up this for good....difficult to explain them that they are the 1s who give me an opportunity every now and then !﻿

+Makoto Takane Google + are like peacock feathers, spread the circle of circle Will be spread across the world.あなたの見た美しい物が、同じ感動の人達と共感を呼び世界中に広がるでしょう﻿

+Tia BoykinI am a cook & hair dresser﻿

+John Wesche John Wesche - +shirley lo asked what some of my favorite movie quotes are so I thought I would make a separate post to list some of them. These are only a random small selection of some of my favorite quotes.

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” — The Shawshank Redemption

“You’re killin’ me Smalls!” — The Sandlot (I use this one a lot)

“The swan ate my baby!” — Drop Dead Gorgeous

“Take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face! Good day to you, madam.” — Uncle Buck

Half of writing history is hiding the truth.- Capt. Malcolm Reynolds – Serenity

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it - Lord of the Rings

"Remember George, No man is a failure who has friends. ... You see, George, you really have had a wonderful life"- It's a Wonderful Life

"And so the days of the Samurai had ended. Nations, like men, it is sometimes said, have their own destiny. As for the American Captain, no one knows what became of him. Some say that he died of his wounds. Others, that he returned to his own country. But I like to think he may have at last found some small measure of peace, that we all seek, and few of us ever find."- The Last Samurai

Please! This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let's not bicker and argue over who killed who.- Monty Python and the Holy Grail

WOAH! You just shot at your imaginary friend next to a truck full of 400lbs of nitroglycerine!- Fight Club

Every shadow no matter how deep is threatened by morning light.- The Fountain

"I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!- There Will Be Blood

Well just a few of my favorites, there not in any kind of order or anything. What are some of your favorite movie quotes? goo.gl/vM5sl

so many different spring photos from all over the world!feel free to look at each others photos (expand the post)and connect with each other!

what does spring look like for you? bears wake up from hibernationbirds return from their migrationgrasses getting fresh hydrationas we enjoy a spring vacation! :)+Charles Lu #WHPhotowalk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Arizona+Yasmin Simpson You are a sweetheart +shirley lo thank you very much for taking the time to ask about our Spring.Here in Scottsdale Arizona, most of the year is sunny and beautiful (love warm weather). Spring is my favorite season, the weather is one of the most perfect ones around 70-80's F (room temperature) and like almost around the world the... more »

sharing spring

so many different spring photos from all over the world!feel free to look at each others photos (expand the post)and connect with each other!

what does spring look like for you? bears wake up from hibernationbirds return from their migrationgrasses getting fresh hydrationas we enjoy a spring vacation! :)+Charles Lu #WHPhotowalk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Arizona+Yasmin Simpson You are a sweetheart +shirley lo thank you very much for taking the time to ask about our Spring.Here in Scottsdale Arizona, most of the year is sunny and beautiful (love warm weather). Spring is my favorite season, the weather is one of the most perfect ones around 70-80's F (room temperature) and like almost around the world the flowers start blooming more than before and the sunsets are incredible... :).This link shows how lucky we were receiving the Spring in our city... http://goo.gl/aBaXnand here they are some of our flowers & cactus...http://goo.gl/ijB5S Have an awesome week!

+Serge Ivanov I have no idea how I missed this image my friend! I even have you in the main circle I check everyday... Weird...Unfortunately I do not have any spring shots to share yet, but this one certainly makes me want to change that! The very light pink and luscious green are fantastic.

It's hard to describe spring without writing out a cliche. But that isn't by accident; spring really is rejuvenation and rebirth. Winter can be tough on one's soul and mind, especially when living in northern climates. We come out of our shell and wash away our woes and discontent of winter with rain that will be followed by the brilliant sun of summer. It is a time when one's sunlight deficiency-inspired frown is replaced by the grin of possibility and optimism!

Russia+Sergyum Shapowalow The Urals, the day before yesterday with his son skiing, added a few photos. http://goo.gl/A1G6uHere's such spring! I came home after work, outside the window it is snowing, 10 degrees Celsius, the wind gusting up to 20 meters per second ... The usual weather for March ... Sorry for the quality, I am - an amateur, a camera - a simple ...Urals - in the sense of - of the mountain. and the city of Nizhny Tagil. Thank you for your attention, he added a new album. we have go also spring. http://goo.gl/mZ0p9London+Laurence Taylor Spring in Crystal Palace park, London. http://goo.gl/aSpWB

Tokyo+Jeff Austin Spring is the most beautiful time of the year in Japan with both Ume and Sakura blossoming. This is from a garden in Tokyo, taken february 29th 2012: http://goo.gl/xit4qI would love to share this with all of you and of course my family in Canada.

India +Sumit Sen What a lovely shot Shirley! It so symbolizes Nature springing back to life after taking a well-deserved winter break. Spring for me, is also all about colours and new leaves and flowers and birds breaking into song! It is as if stored energy is unleashed with the promise of new life.I'll be adventurous and share two links to my posts here. The 1st depicts Nature's splendour: http://goo.gl/s1cKkand the 2nd is of a traditional spring festival in India - Holi, teh Festival of Colours: http://goo.gl/YxDVAAs far as seeing spring images go, I'd love to see an Arctic spring image from anyone :)

+Jasbir S. Randhawa That is an awesome depiction of Spring, Shirley! Sumit Sen has put it across beautifully. For me, Spring in India is the altogether brief period between when we stop wearing woollens and when we start using ceiling fans and air conditioners! During this period, everything turns green, trees sprout fresh leaves rapidly, fruit trees are in bloom, and the mating calls of birds can be heard all day long, and birds and squirrels can be seen collecting nesting material, and insects abound! :)

Florida+Kéifus Mathews The tree's look about the same here in Florida, It's been a few days here with perfect weather, How I love this time of year here...I love looking at your pictures, thanks again and blessing to you and yours...

Finland+Marko Haatanen I'm in Oulu Finland. I took this one a few days ago. It's not from Oulu, but still from Finland. http://goo.gl/qDPdC

Sweden+Benny Sjöstrand - What lovely view, that tree with all flowers is beautiful :) Japanese Sakura tree, if I'm not wrong(?)I have no spring photos ready for 2012 yet, but they are coming soon, most likely in HDR :)Some selections from previous springs in Gothenburg http://goo.gl/u8A0M

I'll certainly publish more castle photos :) There quite many castles here in Sweden.This one in particular has not been used by military, it's more like a big summer house, with big beautiful garden, for amusement. The history is better described here http://goo.gl/2ozbX

China+John Wesche Great pictures, love them all. I didn't see one from china in there though and I lived there for a while so I thought I would link one.black dragon pool yunnan china http://goo.gl/VbxxP

Sicily+Fabio Bucchieri my last spring shot is here: http://goo.gl/NiEGtand I would love to see some spring photos by +Heidi Anne Morris :)

Japan+Jeff Matsuya Spring has been slow in coming here in Japan, but the sakura (cherry) blossoms are pretty much synonymous with spring for us, and I was lucky to find one tree blooming a couple of weeks back: http://goo.gl/tZYu0I do expect a lot more in the coming weeks, similar to this one I took last year :) http://goo.gl/GFmwr

Oklahoma+Jerry Johnson I finally put together a small album of a few flowers I found "hanging out" around our house. :-) Springtime flowers, and the color they bring, are a big part of our family's celebration of this season of newness! http://goo.gl/GP2LQ

+D. DeMonteverde Hi +shirley lo, here's my latest post of spring flowers. I've been challenging myself to take more spring blooms, especially the trees but it's been challenging because of the wind. Love your picture a whole lot!http://goo.gl/3pj3Q

Colorado+Michael Ace Very nice Shirley! Here is a "Springy" photo I have taken: http://goo.gl/iqClgEnjoy! :)

New Mexico+Bill Murray As you have seen of some of the photos in my collection of wonderful artists I enjoy the touch and texture of photos..My spring...and fall ....on the road to Timberon ,New Mexico..there is a section of the hiway that is lined on both sides with shimmering Aspen trees..In fall the golds are soooo bright one has to wear sun glasses to view them..in Spring..Lush greens and silver absolute nirvana!T hanks for sharing....Bill http://goo.gl/wQrHz

Boston+Kenneth Straka Some spring photos from the Boston area. New life and new beginnings! http://goo.gl/ag3aw

Taiwan+Toshi Lin I will describe the location I took them later in my photo album. :) http://goo.gl/6Ba3ryes, how about this one? http://goo.gl/2jf98Or this one? It's a kind of wildflowers. 蘭崁馬藍 Strobilanthes rankanensis http://goo.gl/0TGJO

Northeastern Pennsylvania in the Appalachian Mountains+Michael Mazza a photo of an early spring being enjoyed by my niece and I. http://goo.gl/S4VxiMine is from the Northeastern Pennsylvania in the Appalachian Mountains. Also, in response to your question, +shirley lo, the visible thing/things on the tree trunk consist of a yellow, deflated, smiley-face-ball and a large, gray, turned-over Rubbermaid storage tote..

Florida+Meg Rousher Yes I do. http://goo.gl/t334PThis shot of an American Bumble Bee was taken last week in SW Florida.

New Hampshire+Rick Castillo Spring blossoms and bumbles in Newbury, New Hampshire for +shirley lo http://goo.gl/Vomcv

Maryland+Marty Katz The crocus were an early spring surprise in Maryland, worked hard to get the light coming through just as you did with the cherry blossoms at top. http://goo.gl/4n696

New Jersey+Lupe M. Luevano Ok this is my first Spring picture of 2012 no flowers just trees which I love...Ramsey New Jersey now....but I am so close to New YorkThanks :) ~ Hope it works ~http://goo.gl/XaUL0

+anne-marie Janssen what a Fantastic Idea to post all these links about Spring! +shirley lo It's a joy to see all these lovely images. Spring means new energy...use it with passion :-D thanks for the connection! +shirley lo here's an image of a "blooming" willow....first sign of Spring Happy Thursday! http://goo.gl/4OzrL

+PJ Ammidon Love, love, love Spring +shirley lo . New beginnings are such a blessing ;) http://goo.gl/Wrw6XTaipei+Toshi Lin Actually the relative position of Venus, the Moon & Jupiter is a bit different here in Taiwan. In the following link, it is a photo took by my friend. You can see the Moon is about in the middle of Venus & Jupiter. Every day the Moon roughly moves 12.2 degrees to the East in the celestial sphere. So, it will be about 6.1 degrees difference between Washington DC & Taiwan, because the time difference is 12 hours. http://goo.gl/EgFGt

Tokyo+holggger f Here's another spring photo from Tokyo, Japan. It shows the Shinjuku Metropolitan Offices in the background and a blossoming sakura tree in the foreground. http://goo.gl/eI4sX

DC

+Marilou Aballe Happy spring +shirley lo and fabulous spring image! Every spring I always try to visit the cherry blossoms in the Tidal Basin, Washington DC. Here is a shot of the Tidal Basin inlet bridge under a canopy of blooming cherry blossom that I took when I went there more than a week ago on 3/19/12:https://plus.google.com/115590741447197562412/posts/KuZRSKrnbWf+Christa Laser Here is one of mine of the cherry blossoms! http://goo.gl/fNjC7

DC+Michael Zhuang I took this shot yesterday at dusk during Cherry Blossom festival. +shirley lo thought it's good enough to make public, so here it is. Hope you like it. http://goo.gl/FLbil http://goo.gl/dnd9z

Illinois+Nikki Tepinski This is how spring looks at my house(; http://goo.gl/axqRY

India+Satyadeep Karnati My latest spring shot taken in Assam, India. http://goo.gl/JP80qBTW +shirley lo have you ever been to India?

Spain+Lili Ana Here's one :) http://goo.gl/rJQqN------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+Romeo Deka The choice of spring as a subject is a inspiration to all, it reminds me always of my youth, a past dream. I hope with deep penetrative, sharp and beautiful eyes of your's will give us more meaningful photos.

+John Freeman Spring is Birth; A new generation to experience the world and give the old new hope from today until the today of tomorrow. A New Spring of Hope. The Photo is lovely! It captures all of the Hopes of Today-Today is All we Have; Hope.

+Heeren Sharma I think it is the only season where magic happens. Everything is blooming and the sheer art of nature comes into life .. Even our worst mood can be shattered away by looking at the trees, squirrels , everything ..

+Joy Harrison Lovely! Spring really puts me in a happier mood!I will have picnics, exercise and play games with my son. Spring is luscious where I am on Long Island as we have lots of big backyards with many trees & flowers. I'll try to take a pic & upload it.

+Mikko Tyllinen Such a magical mood Shirley! Very gorgeous light and fabulous colors! Very very beautiful! :)

+Sawsan Hamra Spring.... It means hope..A new chance to achieve your goals..come on, wake up & get your life back & better than before..Hope you all a special spring full of flowers & happiness.. (:http://goo.gl/nFpbw

Facing the sea with spring blossoms - 海子From tomorrow on,I will a happy personGrooming,chopping,and traveling all over the worldFrom tomorrow on,I will care foodstuff and vegetablesI have a house,towards the sea,with spring flowers blossomingFrom tomorrow on,I will write to each of my dear onesTelling them of my happinessWhat the lightening of blessedness has told meI will spread it to each of themAnd give a warm name for every river and every mountainStrangers,I will also give you my well-wishingMay you have a brilliant futureMay you lovers eventually become spouseMay you enjoy happiness in this earthly worldI only wish to face the sea,with spring flowers blossoming

turquoise waters on one side, green mountains on the otherrefreshed by liquid sunshine and rainbows aplenty.ukulele melodies waft through the airsharing laughs, lau lau, and lomi-lomi salmon+Charles Lu................................................................................................thoughts others have shared:

+boo Jay So +shirley lo asked me (and many others) a fairly innocent question which I never stopped to think about before. Of course, being able to enjoy the stunning, dream-like visions she shares in any of her masterful photographs would be exquisite, but seeing as how that's not my life at the moment, I thought about my perfect day as it applies to my current lifestyle and it was as easy as pie, I just never realized it.

turquoise waters on one side, green mountains on the otherrefreshed by liquid sunshine and rainbows aplenty.ukulele melodies waft through the airsharing laughs, lau lau, and lomi-lomi salmon+Charles Lu................................................................................................thoughts others have shared:

+boo Jay So +shirley lo asked me (and many others) a fairly innocent question which I never stopped to think about before. Of course, being able to enjoy the stunning, dream-like visions she shares in any of her masterful photographs would be exquisite, but seeing as how that's not my life at the moment, I thought about my perfect day as it applies to my current lifestyle and it was as easy as pie, I just never realized it.

My perfect day is pretty unexciting. It would start off with me sleeping in, my dogs serving as my blankets and pillows, waking up fresh and recharged to expend all that energy on some physical activity for hours and hours until I'm completely spent (these days that would have to be tennis). Afterwards, I'd like to go out with some friends/family (yes, AYCE sushi +Kari Kari :P), share some inappropriate laughs, old stories, and later catch a highly anticipated movie I've been dying to see. After secretly geeking out the entire time, I'll want to overanalyze the shit out of it even if there was no deeper meaning. I'll probably debate, critique, and read countless analyses until I'm satisfied that there's nothing more I could possibly want to know.

When I finally get home, I'll likely be greeted with irrational enthusiasm by my seven dogs as though they haven't seen me for years, which is the greatest feeling I've ever had and I don't know why, but I'm lucky enough to experience it everyday. Honestly, even the worse day becomes a bearable one when that happens. Eventually, I'll make my way to the couch and either have music or the TV playing in the background as one by one my little ones gather around and on top of me to keep me warm, which, like clockwork, causes me to drift away to end the perfect day.

+Kari Walker That is a perfect day!! Analyzing a movie and/or everything to death is EXACTLY what I do too and it drives everyone around me crazy!! And I only have 2 wonderful pets but it's amazing how spiritual (I think) animals are and they have such an amazing energy and the unconditional love too. Perfect day....would include going somewhere fun...oh wait, warm weather...going somewhere fun with my girls...like a park or something...learning something new and a teensy bit mind blowing....coffee/drinks or chatting on G+ with friends...and um my cat and dog. Wow, your story is SO much better and more complete Jay ;)

+Sean Green Your perfect day is a lot more precise than mine. Not working, vegging out on games, spend time with wife and cat.

+Loc Trane I can't get over the 7 dogs. Someone needs a woman in his life. ;-) I'll have to pass for now. Maybe another time as I'm in a middle of a bit of a hectic weekend. I'm sure it is on a white sand beach surrounded behind by tall windswiped green cliffs, in front a little beyond is the slow curls of blue-green ocean waves rocking a little sail boat, and next to me are my beautiful wife smiling knowingly along with me as our children running and laughing between us. Yeah, something like that will do nicely.

+Michael Mazza Unlimited money to spend with the finest of people in the most wonderful places on the Earth. Eating the greatest home-cooked meals, and sleeping in the most comfortable bed with the most beautiful woman. It suffices in fantasy and hopefully one day in reality.It's nice to imagine that "Perfect Day" and sharing it with you.

+Matthew Neason The vibrant colors of nature cascade about the dull gray buildings of man's endeavors to civilize it. The colors operate in defiance of their boundaries, and their resplendent hue invades the awkward looking buildings with it's simple perfection. A storm of opposition, where man operates in spite of the beauty ll around and nature reflects more perfectly when offered the feeble hand of man's creation to compete against. Resplendent beauty defying the walls that hold it, flaunting it's obvious superiority in humble tranquility. Rather than fighting against progress, or compromising itself, nature simply exists, and swallows the iniquities of the world, burping out sunshine.

+Michael Menefee A perfect day? Good friends, my lover, sunrise on the beach, hiking into the rainforest during the day and enjoying the sunset and stars with said company on top of a peak overlooking it all. Of course, there just happens to be a perfect secluded camping spot nearby. Maybe throw in a cool astro-show of some sort, say the Perseid Meteor Shower, some adult beverages and/or coffee and things are looking pretty darned good! ;-)))

+Duff Ashfox A perfect day would be a day of standing in a place, akin above; while the gentle blow of the wind touches once face, and heartwarmingly feeling the fine moment that it brings...

+Bill Murray - Being in the duggouts you saw, n tending fishing traps, then coming home to prepare what has been provided..and share in "family" be it extended,or just us,by campfire..Ahhhh..I can smell the hickory now..mmmm!

+Tsegaye Hidru This is so beautiful +shirley lo. Would love to sit down and see this blown up in a big screen/canvas in front of me.

Other thoughts: Mix of divine/earthly masterpiece: Most of our creations are square/rectangular form as you can see in the buildings, and the devine is more circular/curvy as you can see the roundness on the ocean and the sky. vitruvianman

+Serge Ivanov Absolutely breathtaking view!Usually I seem to be able gather up my thoughts quickly and answer your questions but this time... it feels like I don't really know! I think something simple like spending time with family and friends away from work and the routine of everyday life would be my idea of a perfect day.I completely agree. Life is complicated as it is, so escaping that for a while with those I love seems like the way to go.

+Margaret TompkinsIncredibly beautiful! I love the wonderful sky and ocean and nothing beats Honolulu!! My perfect day is on the beach on the North Shore (summer - I'm not a surfer), shave ice and dinner at Pizza Bobs! If in Honolulu, then it's Alan Wong!! Oh, this photograph is so making me want to be there!! It's wonderful!!﻿

I've never actually had pizza at Pizza Bobs in Haleiwa. They have some fantastic dishes involving fresh fish, pasta, pineapple and other yummy things! Another great day on the North Shore of Oahu is the Polynesian Cultural Center including a wonderful luau and fantastic show! You have me REALLY wanting to get back to Hawaii!! Many thanks!!﻿

+Simon Doughty My perfect day would be one involving my girls, although a hike to take in this stunning vista and to be lucky enough to find an Eames lounge chair at the top would come a very close second. One day maybe! spectacular shot.

+Klomwang Hwang My perfect day is that I hunt for paradise with no sorrow and sufferings at all, Make the world beautiful with your hands .. with pretty Shirley o_o

+Shang Heng Wei My idea of a perfect day is spending time with family and enjoying the time together in a place like the one in +shirley lo's post photo. I used to think it is an easy thing to do. But now I realize it's easier said than done as I get older...﻿

+Steve Anthony Herrera +shirley lo My first instinct... waking up in the place where the vista from that photo exists. Second instinct.... having someone to share that day with. ;-)

+Lupe M. Luevano The capture is so beautiful and inviting....My perfect day is to be a able enjoy a day without feeling like I have a alarm clock/time clock about to go off and I have to do everything at the speed of light... :) Otherwise I would love to be able to spend at least one day in Scotland.....

+Michelle Torio So beautiful! I love nature and it's always refreshing to see pictures like this..so jealous now.. :)Well, a perfect day for me would always be beside loved ones in a quiet place like the beach, taking lots of pictures and eating ice cream. ;-)

+lavina street beautiful. wouldnt mind going there one day...i wish!!!my perfect day would be to have a good breakfast, then jump in the car, or (dreaming) truck, go up in the mountains,preferably yosemite, and have a picnic, take pictures, then spend the night there looking at the stars...like i said, im just dreaming here...

+Paras Shah I am seriously debating between two ides for a perfect day :D One involving food that i'm not going to mention here, but other one involve bit of a traveling... I love to go on long drive with my lovely wife, roam around on a place like Yellowstone NP, probably do some campfire and enjoy the night out there...Always love to stay close to mother-nature :))Food, hmmmm don't get me started +shirley lo :)) Well, i can't get enough of Indian Veg food. Some spicy curry, milk sweets or mango pulp, puri (indian bread)...I guess missing some authentic taste now ;))

+Sumit Sen Outstanding shot with great clarity and depth and brilliant hues.My perfect day would be sit alone by the side of a crystal clear river in the Himalayan foothills and see the mist rise to reveal surprises that Nature has in store for me that day :-)

+Dino Morrow Aloha +shirley lo ! Lovely shot that really captures the majesty of the diamondhead view! And for the perfect day...it seems like tomorrow's photowalk in Waikiki will qualify for me...I'm very excited to be able to pop over from Big Island and meet everyone!

+Benny Sjöstrand My perfect day is spending time doing some activity with family and best friends. Just something simple and humble, for example just having a dinner and chatting. Spending a day helping friends and family can also be a perfect day. I think those beauty moments are very few in life, we need to take care of each importunity.

That's very beautiful composition, colors are perfectly balanced, I like it a lot :)

+D. DeMonteverde Some time with family and friends; some time for myself, for meditation and to enjoy beauty (like your awesome photo, +shirley lo ) and some time for dance (of course). It would be perfect if I could fit it all in a day! BTW, I've got a new webcam and will try it out soon.

+Morgan ABBOU A perfect day is a day when I get to see a new amazing place in this world with the people I love.I have a true passion for travelling, I wish I could travel even more. So when I have to stay in Paris, I look at amazing pictures like this one, I travel in my head and it makes me smile :) Thank you +shirley lo for sharing with us your beautiful spirit.﻿

+Bill Eyer A great little hike, the view is amazing! And Maria is right many great peeps on Oahu, a visit to the Side Street Cafe is a must!! Or just a plate lunch and some shaved-ice on a hot day! Shave Ice after a day of surfing, snorkling or just hanging on the beach completes a perfect day, gotta get back again soon =D

+Margie D Casados My perfect day is simply filled with laughter:)))It's a good laugh, some smiles, and feeling the warm sun on my face:)

+Pete Song Beautiful photo... Hawaii is one of my favorite places. I've hiked Diamond head a few times. A perfect day would be sitting on the balcony of one of those hotels overlooking the ocean.

+Milos Simic Nice,i want to go there,someday :-D!!!!Well my idea would be a simple day with people that i love, a day in nature spent in peace :-D!

+Billy Wilson My perfect day would be a day of completing a lot of things, finishing a lot of goals, and pushing myself somewhere further than before.

+Valentin Dobroia thanks for the question +shirley lo ! I am I very well! Today my idea of a perfect day is a sunnny sunny day, because here is still pretty cold. In summer i will change my mind. :)

I will make more trips in the surroundings,i will go to the gym and in summer i hope to travel in Corfu Island ( Greece )

+Matej Rajčan Perfect day... as i am thinking right now, i dont know, but it must be sunny, and must be summer (winter only when sleddog is nearby), also with water and lots fun. (thank you)

+Ed Bannister Photography with good friends in th mountains or desert would come first..then? http://goo.gl/xVlTO

+Johan Peijnenburg A day in the Alps makes my day +shirley lo :-)I do ski yes, but I also love long hikes with or without snow shoes :-) I have always loved mountains ... I decided live amidst them 4 years ago and enjoying it every day now!

+Subra Govinda Finding time away from work to spend with family and friends:) photographing a sunrise would be a perfect way to start a day!

+Bruce Tran A great picture! My perfect day would be sailing in something like that.

+Yasmin Simpson Definetely +shirley lo a perfect heavenly day for me would be being here, what an amazing shot an processing!

+的場由昭 Thank you wonderful Photo !!Mine is to meet birds and take good pictures

+Albert Vuvu Konde The perfect day for me..: Waking up without worrying about my future and live every day like it's the last... :)﻿

+John Freeman This photo is so breath taking there are few words that capture the feelings and emotions that are generated. So I say "Let it Be". The perfect day for me is to give something that cannot be taken. That something is "Love"!

+Allen Steen Great shot of a lovely location. Sitting up there would seem pretty perfect to me. I was in Oahu & Maui about 25 years ago, beautiful places.. I often wonder how Hawaii has changed..?

+Anne-Marie Janssen I could create hundreds of perfect days without spending hundreds of dollars (or euro's in my case). But as I'm looking at this picture I would do something I've never done: sailing off. Happy Weekend!

+j. r. messias Lying in a hammock in a beauty afternoon with a lovely mature woman and coconut water all the time.

+Ovidiu Bursucu Difficult question. It'll have to do with ... using the star gate or boldly going where no one has gone before :-))

+Meg Rousher BeautifulA perfect day would begin after I walked out of Lotto headquarters with my winnings and onto the jet I just bought to begin my travels around the world :)

+Chris Hoffmann Wherever there are clouds, clarity, and my daughter, so is there a perfect day. Your image reminds me of these beautiful things. Thank you. :)

+Remondo Hodges This photo is a master photo take' feet wet while I inhale the dream, I love it...My idea of a perfect day is capturing a photo of the pie in the sky my o my the pie the sky; in progress for 30 days straight, so far no luck I've been behind the sun instead of in front of the sun here in the Midwest. So to all of you photo take masters if you see' the pie in ski please email me the picture! that would be a perfect day in my book. #PieInTheSky ﻿

+Bertrand Chombart Trying to answer your question about what would be a perfect day.... ;)

The last month i have been quite addicted to photography, and i think your work helped for that ;)... so right now i don't imagine a perfect day without my camera. Haven't shoot this week, but looking forward to press the shutter release this week end ;).Further more, i think they are many aspects i like in photography, you can do it alone, or with friends. I guess i like and i need both. Shooting long exposure in a quite and peacefull place is quite amazing... So i can imagine me in a wonderfull place.... i guess something like Bali, where i have seen the most amazing sunset ever so far... I never had the oportunity to shoot with many people, but i'll go on my first photowalk in Berlin in may and that will be quite fun... Socialising with people and learning from great photographers (so maybe having an oportunity to shoot with you might be part of my great day ;) )....I guess from my culture i can't imagine a great day without great meals.... and for sure i can't imagine a great meal alone ;). My favorite food is asian so maybe indian or thais...And to finish my day i still have in mind a place in Bali where you can drink a nice cocktail with lounge music just watching the amazing sunset.... That would be great, but i can imagine something completely different to, shooting a pic like you have with all those stars (never saw that kind of sky over here) or shooting up north in winter to shoot boreal sky (i don't know if that is english, so i hope you understand it)...

last part of a great day, is i like people to be happy, and specially people that i care for.... so i need to find a way to include that in that day ;)I wish you a great Day +shirley loTake care ;)

i asked mariah carey a few months ago about what her perfect day would be like and her thoughts are:

+Mariah Carey A perfect day... your location is a sunny beach in the Bahamas perhaps or in the Mediterranean coast, and upon waking in the afternoon, you decide to skip breakfast and go into the ocean after your mimosa! Then you slide down the water slide which is naturally there on your yacht!! You swim in the water for a little bit, have fun... maybe some dolphins swim by! You swim until you get tired and laugh with your friends and family (in my case that would be the lambily!) until the evening!http://goo.gl/K8Nww

+david colazza When I feel in harmony with nature................................................................................................+Maria Quiban Yes +shirley lo I am from Oahu and hiked up to the top of Diamond all the time....that's why this view/picture is so extra meaningful to me. I miss everything about home including this view, the weather and mostly the people. The best in the world!!

+Jason FracaroThe view.The breeze.Blue skies & blue waters.

+mark o'shea Like etched mantels we struggle to scratch the surface yet we long to see and live with the imagined truth of the curve of the earths surface!﻿

+Paul Burke I did indeed! :)DiamondHead2009 http://goo.gl/u45Pt

Nothing like the amazing colours seen in your picture, but really nice memories nonetheless.....

It's photographs such as yours that really evoke the memories of being in what I like to think of as my spiritual home - even if I've only spent 11 weeks or so of my life there.

The first time I went was with a friend back in 1991, and I think I was a little overwhelmed by this whole new beautiful world and way of life.

We stayed a little under a fortnight, and it was hardly long enough to get over the flights! I ached to go back, and my wife and I grabbed the opportunity to go for 3 weeks back in 2006 - we explored a little, I loved seeing parts I recognised, and wondering at some of the parts that changed.

The food has always been a big hit with us - the variety and availability of wonderful foods from so many cultures keeps us constantly smiling.

Watching the Honu on the North Shore (and even swimming off Waikiki) is always something you can turn the rest of your life off for. We love Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium.

I remember being awed by the Kamehameha parade from my first visit, and we timed our first trip in 2006 to match my wife's birthday and Kamehameha day.

The views, the water, the people calling "hey Uncle!" just to start a conversation and have a chat with us. Swimming and sightseeing and even just going around Oahu on TheBus! We love going over the Koolau in TheBus and we love the rain when it comes down hard.

We went back for another 3 weeks in 2008, and the same again in 2009. Each time we do a little more - for example we had a day trip to Big Island in 2009, walked over the lava fields to see the new land being formed, experiencing the craters and a totally different view of Hawaii. In 2008 we took a helicopter tour of Oahu - amazing.

I parasailed for the first time in 2009 - looking at Waikiki from so high and far away, then falling into the water when the boat driver decided to have fun with me left me with a grin from ear to ear that's still not totally faded.

I'm so privileged to have all these (and many more) memories of Hawaii - even the broken toe, heatstroke, sunburn, jet-lag and other ailments take nothing away from the total. Thanks for helping me bring a couple to the forefront of my mind!

+Makoto Miyagawa I went to Maui and oahu in December of 2011.I was able to shoot a lot of rainbow.It's good but also rainy season in Hawaii :)In Maui, I rent a car and went to such as Hana bay andHaleakala National Park to take pictures.There are very beautiful place.I was too much exciting. Then I was tired. ^^;When I went to Hawaii, it is best to relax. :)

+Jeremy Heyer DH is a great place to get some fantastic shots.I've lived here for a little over four years taking photographs off and on.I have a "some of my favorite shots" album, but mind you. I'm not a professional by any means.https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/117762940362463582034/albums/5691329034129282769

+Ralph Mendoza here are some pictures from the trip I took in 2003 to Oahu. Wow! Can't believe it's been that long. Short story...had a Canon 300D. Didn't even now how to take night photos. RAW to me was something not cooked. Enjoy: http://goo.gl/j8ysV

+Brett Kenny +shirley lo I say the perfect day would be pretty close to your photo, with the sweet sent of flowers in the air and a warm light breeze :)﻿

+Sanghoon LeeShirley, my perfect idea of day is always" comedy or topic that is related with my interest..." maythuzar xiaoyanzilu: 有趣的是，我想...... I wonder what is perfect day for..﻿

+maythuzar xiaoyanzilu我也想进去你的perfect day世界， 那肯定是天堂。﻿

+Gino CocchiToday is the greatestDay I’ve never knownCan’t wait for tomorrowI might not have that long...................................................................................................

we are a collection of our experiences, hopes, and dreams.so many things are transient, and collecting is a tangible way for us to capture moments.seeing them in their collected form helps us make sense of our memories through a few objects.+Charles Lu........................................................................................................thoughts others have shared:

+Chris Wolf it's always good to know what your friends collect, to make them happy when accidentally finding a new item for their collection.as a child i used to collect matchboxes (real ones, not the little cars) & other stuff. today i collect letters (digital), which I print from time to time.

i just collected matchboxes by cover, espacially from different countrys. i loved... more »

collection

what do you collect? :)

we are a collection of our experiences, hopes, and dreams.so many things are transient, and collecting is a tangible way for us to capture moments.seeing them in their collected form helps us make sense of our memories through a few objects.+Charles Lu........................................................................................................thoughts others have shared:

+Chris Wolf it's always good to know what your friends collect, to make them happy when accidentally finding a new item for their collection.as a child i used to collect matchboxes (real ones, not the little cars) & other stuff. today i collect letters (digital), which I print from time to time.

i just collected matchboxes by cover, espacially from different countrys. i loved collecting and started later sorting and curating the things (like books or collections of letter made to books)

+Serge Ivanov There is some great variety in those shells +shirley lo!

I think many of us would agree that photography itself is collection. We collect slices from our lives, as seen through our eyes at a single instant of time. There's something really powerful about still images, despite the fact we have had the capacity to shoot video for so long. It is a remarkable thing when you realize what we are actually doing.

Time constantly slips through our fingers, but taking a photograph suddenly places immense importance on a single instant; this one frame we instantly infuse with value as soon as we take the shot.

The majority of people document their life as it revolves around family and friends. Photographers on the other hand are assembling a collection of moments that perhaps tell a story of someone or something else. In a way, we are collecting mementos from a world that everyone lives in, but not everyone sees.

...If we step away from that idea for a minute I will say that I do like collecting coins and paper money from various countries. I'm not very serious about it, but even so I have had a decent collection fall into place. It is amazing how you can track history of a nation through what they decide to put on their money. Ideals change, leaders are overthrown, empires form and crumble; yet we naively place the faces and symbols on our money that future generations will not care about. With the digitization of monetary exchange, we may put an end to tangible currency altogether within our lifetimes, but at the same time it will to a disservice to historians of the future.

+Matthew Neason Collections stress the differences between the passions we all have and the question itself leads to a further appreciation of the differences of all people. Here we see a reflection on the beauty of nature, arranged in an entirely human arrangement and unified by the thought that the amount of time spent on collecting is the true expense, everything else is a paltry expense, as the quarter indicates. I wonder then, if the true value of a collection is in the human endeavor to collect, arrange and display it. If the collection is worth the time then it is priceless. I collect ideas.

+Ron Bearry I generally don't like having "stuff" around that I don't use but I have kept a few things that are a part of me. I have a few bicycle frames hanging in the garage that date back to my days as a competitive cyclist. I spent so many painful, joyful hours on them that I can't let them go.

One thoughtful glance at them can take me back to the days when a 7-Eleven Big Gulp after a 100 mile training ride was one of the most beautiful things in the world.

Or the time when I slipped off the back of the pack in an Oregon road race and had to finish the last 70 miles of the race by myself, riding into the worst headwind I've ever encountered...Yeah, that was awesome.

Shirley, I competed as a relatively slow amateur in the Western half of the U.S. but did make some trips further East for a few races. The 100 mile days were during my college years when I had more time to train. :) Cycling is my favorite mode of exercise though and during the summer months it's not uncommon for me to disappear somewhere for most of the day on my mountain bike. It's good to hear that you are getting out there too!

+Benny Sjöstrand That looks like a lovely collection of pretty shells :)

Sometimes I feel that I collect far too much. From my era constructing tube-amplifiers, I got a big collection of vacuum/electron tubes and electronic components. Now I'm in a photography period, I kind of started to collect old twin-reflex film cameras, now having a collection of 4 Rolliecord cameras.

A very interesting topic, almost everyone collect something.

I have an album from my amplifier construction era (year ago now) https://plus.google.com/photos/113703289482348395189/albums/5653066719333626513They are now in my basement, I still use them the few moments when I play the guitar, they has a special sound.

My first Rolleicord camera was a gift from a friend, now I'm kind of stuck :) I want to learn photography using traditional methods, without using digital technology.

We've talked about collecting before - and I've always kept my eye on this thread. What we collect is a part of our social DNA, and it speaks volumes about who we are as a person, and who we are as part of a community.

I've always been an inveterate collector, and it started in childhood. If you're a collector, too, we're going to get along just fine!+Bill Murray I collect people, places, artifacts, legends, wisdoms,,medicines,arts, crafts, language,music,tools,and not just the scattered and obscure remnants..the whole of their spirit..so that I may carry it to those who have yet to share in such wonders..and share with them in full color,texture and spiritual presentation.

+anne-marie Janssen I used to collect things like Chinese porcelain (tea cups) but I got tired of dusting them :-) Since I visited Cuba, I got a different look at collecting things (owning things, wanting things, have-to-have things). I stopped stuffing the house with things. Nowadays I just collect shells. I collect them from beaches which have a special meaning, such as Trinidad, California. Or pebbles, shaped by the water. And feathers I find in the woods, on the street, big or small....in any color.

Trinidad in California has a small beach, not a sandy one. It has tiny dark pebbles. I was traveling along the coast and Redwood National Park when I stopped for a short break. There was nobody else on the beach and the sun was going down. That was that special moment :-D No pictures of Trinidad but some of shells I found on a beach in Portugal. https://plus.google.com/101821051914085318966/posts/VGuHkSMiEPt Have a Wonderful Sunday and thanks for the inspiration! +shirley lo

+Suzy Jenkins I collect tarot card decks as I love the pictures. I also collect one-of-a-kind artist bears and limited edition Charlie bears. Also I have a small shell collection and Swarovski glass.

I used to collect "soft toys" when I was younger and then moved on to collector bears about 6 years or so ago. I have been collecting tarot cards for about 12 years I suppose. Shells I have always collected (but they don't always last as they sometimes get broken). The Swarovski glass collection started with presents I suppose about 15 years or so ago. What I forgot to mention are my crystals - probably because I don't think of them as a collection as I have more than one of each (even though they are obviously different) but I have loads and loads of all types of crystals from tumblestones to a large amethyst geode "cave"..LOL - not that I am a collectorholic or anything but I just like pretty things I guess..

+Chris Summers I seem destined to collect photos! Not only my own which after 50 some years of shooting continues to grow but the collections I inherited from my father and grandfather who were serious amateurs who traveled the world and documented their journeys.

My grandfather who was British went out to China in 1902 and stayed there for almost 30 years serving as a postal commissioner. He did a trip up the Yangste River in about 1908 by river junks and documented what he saw. Rather then just make up B&W prints for a scrap book he had the images made into post cards which was a great idea as most of the old prints have faded with time and the post cards are still fine and contain captions of where the pictures were taken. When I can find the time I would like to make up a website with the collection.

+Mike Hunz Great post...I collect foreign coins, and have since I was 5 when my grandfather came back from India many years ago...(don't ask!). I have a pretty big collection and every trip I go on I look for others from the different countries I visit...

Its a random collection that I still keep in the same wooden box I started with. I have some very old Chinese coins that are my favorite. One of these days I will get around to cataloging them. Of late, I have also been collecting pieces of art from the locations we visit...its sort of "our thing", but its fun.

+Pete Song I used to collect glass coke bottles from different countries. That was before they went plastic. Now I collect mugs and useless electronic gadgets.

Yes, some I got while traveling but I'd also ask people I knew who were going overseas if they could bring me a bottle. The mugs don't have any particular theme - some are from places I worked or visited. No photos-yet!

+Robby Bowles Great post +shirley lo, I'm pretty late to the party on this one. I collected baseball cards as a kid but have not done that in quite some time. I guess now I mostly collect knowledge. I have an insatiable appetite for learning and understanding how and why the world works. It comes out in my job as a scientist and in my spare time. I have to say, I enjoy it quite a bit.

+Chris Hoffmann I like to think I 'collect' humanity.My collection includes ideas, thoughts, images, and objects, both tangible and intangible, as well as many other 'quirky' things that make us who we are collectively and me who I am individually. People like you, who ask such incredibly wonderful questions, as well as the many others with whom I interact on a daily basis help me better appreciate and understand this sometimes crazy, but always amazing, world. And for me, there is no better collection than that!

+Melody Migas Lovely collection! I collect shells, too, they are my favorite thing to collect. My husband & I also collect art pottery including Rookwood, Marblehead, and Roseville. Vintage dinner & glassware, barware, old military guns, signed NFL gear, and a whole lot of dust, lol. We use to buy & sell antiques, now we just collect here & there.

+Kathy Dawn well, I don't actually collect anything tangible , but I do collect precious memories every day with my children! does that count? I know, kind of "cheesy" or "cliche" , but true none the less :)

+John Freeman Shirley, the image of the collection is without words to describe. Is there some reason that money is the beginning or source of the collection? My collections are the thoughts of Life & Experiences of my life of the past and how these relate to the future! Peace, Thank you my wonderful friend of life. I love your image of symmetry (The Yin & Yang) around the money symbol.

+Joe Vallee I collect my thoughts nightly for over 13 years in a journal...... you may be in it ;-)It may make for a wealth of interesting information once I get the time to put thoughts to a story in the future. I have a real life who done it that needs to be written......

+Pasquale Di Dato i've a collection of shirleys, but i see, i miss one :P

+Daniel Chen That's a wonderful collection of shells (and that one coin, hehe)!I like to collect macarons, though they don't sit around for long after I acquire them :)

I have this impulse of getting them whenever I see them :) Yep, I'm an avid macaron 'collector' :)

+John Wesche I collect old, rare, and foreign films and coins from around the world

+Amalia Pedemonte I collect lapel pins from all over the world... I Love them :)

+Jorge A. Wong I collect books...:-)

+Mark Esguerra Well, I haven't really collected anything since high school. But what I collected back then was comic books. I was a big comic nerd. he he. ;-P

He he, I always read them first, then they went into the baggies never to be opened again. ;-P

+Sumit Sen Lovely shot! I collect books :-)Essentially books on information and especially wildlife and nature-related books. I have one of the largest collections of bird books in my part of the country for sure :-) also collect old books, especially illustrated books.

+lavina street i love to collect anything that has to do with cats. pictures, ceramic,stuffed,i even have my own collection of ferals that come around every day...they have their own names...and i also collect ceramic bunnies...

+Brandon Oh I collect fallen leaves every autumn and classic old camera and lens.

+Mike Hunzeker Great post...I collect foreign coins, and have since I was 5 when my grandfather came back from India many years ago...(don't ask!). I have a pretty big collection and every trip I go on I look for others from the different countries I visit...

+Jun C I used to collect Starbucks cards... but not so much anymore... I still try to collect rare ones tho... the last one I bought (off eBay) was the Olympics one from Canada...

Oh, I also started taking photos of Chinese cookie fortunes... :)

+Olivier Malinur Apart from troubles, I collect minerals, about 300 specimens with a particular focus on silicates, especially quartz. I was also collecting science books older than 1900. I had 12 only.

+Rogier Rood I can be short on this question; due to shortage of space I started to collect all kind of interesting things with only one restriction: they have to be digital. That are mainly pictures. :)

+Nimesh Patel Excellent image, and thoughts to go along with it. Thanks, +shirley lo and Charles Lu. I collect images. I used to collect material things, but now trying to cut down on that habit as I get older!I used to collect fountain pens!

+Klomwang Hwang Good stuffs are posted here, what I wish to collect is now hope. and you ? o_o

+Kean Damien I collect people thoughts,hopes and dreams then enable them to sculpt me into a life size person through understanding people better. :0)

+Serena Ruiz I collect dolls...since I was a young girl I have been so fascinated by them. From franklin mint to barbie, to special collections...

+Lupe M. Luevano That is a nice collection of shells ... I used to collect shells from every place I had ever been to that of course had an ocean that I had found....It was a big collection... But in the move after my Mom died the movers dropped all my shells and they all broke... I stopped collecting them... Now I seem to collect antique jewelry boxes in which I store my "Jewels"... :))

+Kerry Murphy Wow! This is a great collection, +shirley lo! I am a shell collector too. They are not organized at all but we bring some home from the beach every year. My son is a rock collector. I love it. :)

+Robin Griggs Wood What an amazing post, +shirley lo!! I love it! I love your shells image, too –– I have a collection of them as well (you've reminded me that I've been meaning to shoot them ... ;oD)

+Marilou Aballe Wonderful post +Shirley Lo ! I collect U.S. stamps (sheets) in mint condition. I've been collecting them since moving to the U.S. more than 25 years ago :).

+Paras Shah I collect +1 love +shirley lo :DWell, I used to collect stamps at one point but that is in India now. Also collecting some currency notes from various countries... that's about it +shirley lo :)

Yes +shirley lo, stamps i kinda stopped now as major chunk was inherited from my grandpa. But currency notes i still do. They are from different countries i visited or been to while in transit :))

+Vivienne Gucwa I am not much of a collector of physical objects. I do collect dreams though. :)I actually started writing them down last month because I wanted one place to go back to whenever I needed to feel inspired (made a post about it too!). Some of the ones I hope to make come true one day: Travel the world with my camera, Take a photograph in the center of every major city on earth, Visit every continent and swim in every ocean.

The image in your post stood out to me because my mother collects shells!

+Anderson Santiago JR I have a big collection of anime dvd and starting to collect anime art book soon.

+Diwakar MRao I try to recollect all my thoughts.... which i missed without capturing them in photos or in art form... going forward trying to capture everything possible

Every night I picked a music video from youtube to say goodnight to my facebook & plurk friends.I collect all the links to the list:http://goo.gl/t98dU

When I was in college, graduate school, I love Mahler most. Recently I feel like Schubert most.

Maybe another collection is photos? I went out quite often to take photos. Here is my photo album: http://goo.gl/TFwgn

I traveled to these places quite often. In 2008 I bought my very first camera in my life and started learning photography myself. I took all these photos within 4 years. (Except the first 9 photo albums: Yosemite, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Waterton, Banff, Jasper, Oregon, SF. I took these by my friend’s camera in 1999 during my camping trip to the States & Canada)

+Tiffany Henry +shirley lo collects circles and people! No wonder I got close to 800 adds in the last hr! Thanks for collecting me in a collection! :-)........................................................................................................for those that collect circles:

+PJ Ammidon Just followed you +shirley lo ;)http://pinterest.com/ammidon/

+Ken Hughes Awesome! I'm just starting out with Pinterest myself but yours gave me some inspiration. :)http://pinterest.com/kilowatthours/

+Ian Good I've just followed your boards and see you've been busy pinning +shirley lo. I'm on there but struggle to find the time for that and this and everything else. :)http://pinterest.com/iangood/

+Wes Lum Omg, that picture is awesome! Beautiful processing +shirley lo :DI just followed you on pinterest too!http://pinterest.com/weslum/

+Richard Tang great post +shirley lo ! i'm looking to collect the BEST photos on pinterest would love to see more of your work on therehttp://pinterest.com/richteamedia/ =)

+Benny Sjöstrand That's a very beautiful view! In this cold winter I wish I was there.Following you on pinterest, I do not have much time discover it yet, also created a profile:http://pinterest.com/bennysjostrand/

+Serge Ivanov This shot's lovely pastel-colored sky warms up the soul =) Love how the trees are rooted at the corners too!Just started using Pinterest on Friday thanks to an invite from +Sinead Sam McKeown.http://pinterest.com/sivanov/

+Ron Bearry Beautiful! I started a Pinterest page. I can't guarantee I'll keep adding to it I'll have to see how it goes. :)http://pinterest.com/ronbearry

+Tsegaye Hidru I don't want night to come or darkness to spill over this nature, I know night's on the horizon but I want this to last forever. We don't control the time. This is the exact moment we need. Here's my Pinterest,http://pinterest.com/tsegaye/

+Lupe M. Luevano Gorgeous capture.... and if you are still adding my address for Pinterest is .... Thank You... :)http://pinterest.com/LupeLuevano/

+Chris Hoffmann Wish I was there ^^^, but I 'am' here:http://pinterest.com/chrishoffmann/ ;)

+Athena Carey Lovely photo +shirley lo!

I am on pintrest, but have not decided yet if I am going to keep using it. There is quite a lot of controversy over it right now with photographers. My link is: http://pinterest.com/athenacarey/+Steven Davis http://pinterest.com/stevendavisfoto

+Kristy McCurry http://pinterest.com/hennatrails/

+Vinoth Ragunathan I don't have a Pinterest, but I do have a Google+https://plus.google.com/109573462344426242030/posts =)

+Ivan Dimitrijević Maybe we can make some Pinterest circle +shirley lo. :]http://pinterest.com/urbanosaurus/﻿...................................................thoughts others have shared:

+Matthew Neason A composition of the beauty and simplicity of humanity. I've always thought that mankind looked it's best during the fading hours before twilight. The ocean reflecting the siren song of it's life blood before moving it's mysterious deeper. Sunset always poised on the cusp of depth, but never so enraptured therein to forget the simple beauty of its own existence

+Serge Ivanov I guess I'm not the only one unlucky enough to live somewhere with actual winter. Sometimes I feel like everyone on here is from the sunny state of California.

Oh well. I like snow, even if have to deal with the cold =)

+Jerry Johnson - Such a beautiful photo +shirley lo! It looks like these trees are leaning into the magnificent sunlight to warm themselves. :-)

+Catherine Fakhrieva garden of Eden :)

+John Freeman They seem to be converging to a point. The point is upward towards the Sky and Universe. Is there some definite meaning here? Unison!

+Jim Snodgrass What a cool sunset.. I'd guess this is on Waikiki Beach just south of the big hotel strip.. love the way the palms all lean in to warm up the mood.. Thanks shirley :)

+MILOS JANATA I see many people joining pinterest to upload their stuff for various reasons. Some to promote, some does not want to miss the audience, some suggest to upload their stuff before it gets uploaded by someone else :)Many people are forced to join just not to "miss the opportunity"

There will be million services like this one in a few months.People will not rush anymore.

perhaps I should check it and maybe I change my opinion :)...................................................+Jarek Klimek jarek's circle of g+ photographers on pinteresthttp://goo.gl/DCSep

co-existingif you could communicate w/any lifeform, what would you want to know, and from whom?

a fin's length of glass separates us from another world a flick of our tails brings us closer togetheryou taught us colors and voice signals, and you gave us free health carewe don't know what we can teach youbut we can show you that it is possible to coexist...

...as long as you feed us first. fun fact- whale sharks are filter feeders and they will not eat the other fish :)

co-existingif you could communicate w/any lifeform, what would you want to know, and from whom?

a fin's length of glass separates us from another world a flick of our tails brings us closer togetheryou taught us colors and voice signals, and you gave us free health carewe don't know what we can teach youbut we can show you that it is possible to coexist...

...as long as you feed us first. fun fact- whale sharks are filter feeders and they will not eat the other fish :)

+Serge Ivanov So it took me a while to gather my jaw from the floor after being blown away by the deep blue and million aquatic lifeforms...

As for your question...

Each life form seems to have its physical and biological limits, and what I really would want to know is if we are the only ones that dream of breaking them.

Birds enjoy incredible freedom of movement, but even so are ultimately trapped on this planet.I would probably ask a bird if it was aware of this, and if so, how it felt about it. I would want to know if the bird was aware of something beyond our atmosphere, or if it even cared at all. Somehow I suspect it would be far more interested in finding some food than philosophizing such things.

+Fabio Bucchieri I'd love to be able to communicate with trees and plants in general. I have this theory about all plants on earth being able to form a sort of network through their roots that could act like an interface via which they can share all kinds of information....if I was able to interact with them I would also want to feel the pain that they share when another tree (or a group of them) is destroyed.......I must now go and take my daily dose of antipsychotics... :)I love this post +shirley lo and the image is breathtaking!!

+anne-marie Janssen fabulous shot and good question! In general I like to observe the animals, but every time the geese fly over I wonder where they heading. I sometimes say it out loud. Their response is: "gak gak". ;-)

+Tim Behrens Such a beautiful photograph, and such a great question to go with it.

I think, in so many ways, that other lifeforms are communicating with us all the time. We just expect that, for something to resonate, it must be with words. Any question I could ask would be contrary to the power of simplicity, the all pervasive now, the instinctual drive to exist, and the ease with which most creatures do it.

If they could communicate with us, I think they would ask why we worry so much about the things we have no control over and stand by in ignorance of all the things we do, why we take so much more than we need while surrounded by others who need it more, and why is it that a species that spends so much of it's time pondering the future while forsaking the present is so blind to the what our disconnect from the world, and inability to live in harmony, will eventually bring.

Yet, in this picture, I see hope, peace, awakening... if we could just hang on to it when it wasn't right before us.

+James Merritt this is fantastic.I have no questions for other species but I have tons for my own

+Wes Lum +shirley lo first I would have to master this communicating with humans thing, but second on the priority list would be communicating with dogs! :)

I wish we didn't have to worry about feelings and people could communicate honestly without that fear. I wish people could not get hurt by honesty.

As far as what I would want to know from my dog? What he's thinking when he's looking at me waiting for something...then again, maybe it's better that I can't communicate so easily :)

+Mailis Laos so beautifulI would like to ask dolphins if any human have ever guessed right what they were saying.

honestly, +shirley lo, most of my questions stem from the fact that we wrap ourselves up in the cotton of our first person perspective. I wonder how much is learned habit, how much innate and how much can be short circuited.

I don't believe in the separation (gender, race, etc) most people tend to look on as fact and I find it disheartening when people divide themselves up in camps because they completely reduce their experiences. I'd like to see ego geography erode more.

+Dhopy Nepp I especially want to communicate with plants, mainly trees.I think they should have many things to teach ...

+pam kelso Sit quietly with them, blank your mind and a connection will form. In emergencies, although it sounds stupid, I've asked for my guardian angels to connect with theirs to help find out their needs in that moment. It always worked, but again, it does sound stupid and it's probably best not to do it out loud.

+Melody Migas Beautiful photo and post. Probably a dolphin from the gulf. I'd ask how they and their neighbors are really doing after the BP oil spill.

+Hans Huether Trees. They live longer then us naturally but not when it comes to industrially. They watch the same place all the time so they know the changes of that area more then anyone. They can tell us if over the years their photosynthesis process has changed with an increase in O2/CO2. :) Wow I sound like a Tree Huger...lol

+boo Jay I just wanna know why my dogs sniff each other's butts. I can think of much more hygienic ways to say hello.

+Meg Rousher Wonderful ImageI thought I'd like to ask an old living creature where it's been. Then I found out it's a tortuous and thought they move so slow I've probably been more places than it has. Then I thought maybe ask the oldest tree what it's seen & thought it's probably in the woods somewhere and hasn't seen much. Then I thought ask a creature from another planet what it's like out there in the universe and thought they don't talk to us just experiment on us & don't want any part of that. So I guess I'd want to talk with God and ask where he came from and how many universes there are.Another great question Shirley. Thanks for keeping our minds going :)

+PJ Ammidon You inspire such great communication with your posts! Amazing photos & thought provoking words. I just can't keep from giggling with this one though, because ... I'm thinking... do teenagers count as another lifeform? ;) Otherwise, I'd like to know what it feels like to glide through the air like a hawk.

+Stephen Zacharias Well I think +Wes Lum made a good point. I think many of us humans aren't even that great when it comes to communicating well with each other.

As for another life form that's really hard to say! I think we could so learn so much from a variety of them. I think perhaps I would have to say the majestic American Bald Eagle.

+Amine Yorke so magic vision and really emotive ! i wish i could comunicate with trees so I could earn more time by sharing some of my time with them ;) cheers, your photos are really beautiful ! +shirley lo

+Kyla Glaser ESQ. I think I would want to talk with humming birds and find out what each flower tastes like and which one tastes the best.

+Scott Mc This photo caught my attention right away. The scale, the silhouettes, the fish each keeping to their own schools, the dress, and the variety of species. It looks less like a couple at an aquarium and more like they are looking through a glass wall of the ocean. I’m not a photographer, just someone that was drawn in by this photo. Mesmerizing, thanks for the perspective.

+Victoria Gonzalez i'd like to talk to a blue whale. i imagine they're wise fellows.

+Lupe M. Luevano This is very awesome capture...Like the ocean was sliced open...It shows how small the human race is...... My communication is to human species.... Why can't you extend a little kindness to the people you come in contact with no matter in what type of contact...not necessarily charity... for that is easy to do... why not be open to your fellow human and not cocoon yourself in what you feel is your safe world... That little kindness could make a tremendous difference to the person you extend it to...And you would be surprised how it makes you feel good... Thank you +shirley lo for bringing this wonderful work..... : )

+Darryl Van Gaal Great question.I'll give the (what I think to be) most obvious answer. As a dog lover, I'd love to know exactly what they are thinking at any given time. We think (or at least I do) that I'm giving him what he needs, but you never know. As humans we assume a lot of things... and you know what happens when you assume!+Mark Esguerra Hmm, I think if I had to pick an animal to communicate with I'd pick a bird. Maybe a hawk or eagle. I'd love to hear their thoughts on how beautiful the view is from up there. ;-)

+Lavina Street the earth. and we would sit together and cry...

+Luke Storer I'd have to go with Trees as well, or buildings but they aren't strictly a lifeform they'd still have some pretty amazing stories to tell...

+Keith Dixon Aliens: and I would ask where the hell have you been, we need your help!!

+Chris Hoffmann Such a calm and peaceful scene! I'd love to speak with a turtle (leatherback, tortoise, or any other). They've been around for so long and seen many things, and still they manage to move slowly and thoughtfully in all that they do. I wish I was a little better at that! :)

+Michelle Torio Wow! Truly eye-catching photo...I love the blue and I'm in love with that gorgeous fish tank! :)Well, I'd like to talk with the bees, if I can, and find out what's buzzing around and know what it feels like to be 'busy as a bee'!

+Philipp Weimer I would simply love to see the world the way they do.

Feeling the wind under my wings... the colors of the sea, smelling the deer a mile away, or to see in darkness without using eyes.

We would treat them better then, I think.

OH and - once again, a marvelous picture you give us here :)

+Jerry Johnson Couldn't think of a better way of concluding my G+ day, then with a wonderful post and amazing photo from the talented and kind +shirley lo!

I would ask a whale if the ocean ever get's noisy to the point where it bothers them. Such wonderful animals.

+Benny Sjöstrand That's a beautiful view, and a very good question.I would like to speak with aliens from other planets, and I would ask what they know and think about us and our world.

+Rogier Rood First of all: this is an A m a z i n g picture!! Really beautiful! Now my thoughts that arise when looking at it:

It seems the fish need borders too. All same type of fish are swimming together with a imaginary border around themselves. I would like to ask them why. It probably has to do with survival. In this way the fish know what's next to them and what's going to happen, when and why.

Now I think about art: I think art tries to see things from a different angle. So imagine one yellow fish in a group of blue fish. Out of his comfort zone it sees things differently! It discovering and exploring a whole new world! It's able to contemplate on his own species. Then suddenly fear strikes, because the fish is not in survival mode. Will it's point of view be accepted by his own group? Or will he be threatened by the blue fish because they don't want him in their group?

Sometimes I feel this way. It's the risk of making art, exposing yourself in the way you see the world. Can art be made in a safer way then? I think not. It the process of real art that is inevitable to go through.

I like to hear to thoughts about it! :)

+Michael Menefee Two really great emotional appeals to me from this image: the connection and fascination with nature as exhibited by the couple enthralled by the fish; and secondly the story of love and sharing a day at the aquarium. All told through the simplicity of silhouette, no easy task. Very nice! ;-)

+Kirsten Bowers it is a compelling image, those 2 standing before that amazing subterranean world...I like how they are dwarfed by it too...the scale is fabulous!for me given i work with animals, mainly dogs...i would want to know what they are thinking, what they think of their interactions with the human world. I think there would be lots of different stories to tell! :-))

+Sumit Sen Oh! but they communicate all the time +shirley lo , just that we have not learnt to hear them. We are too new in this world compared to them, They have millions of years of evolution behind them They have been through all of it, seen it, endured it and flourished - changing as the environment demanded over hundreds and thousands of years. Till we arrived that is. We are in too much of a hurry, we want to change the earth ourselves. We want to control the sun, the wind and the water - and we want to do it yesterday. We don't have time to talk to them or listen to them. Heck, we have hardly have time to listen to our family! There was so much we could have learned from them if only we had the time!But back to your image. It is truly splendid. The scale and our own small presence reminds me that we are only one of the millions of species that inhabit this earth. If only we could learn to coexist with all of existence!

i'll try to translate it in english, (not able to find the author translation) :"Form who make being different does not matter if their thoughts join together to build an universe"

+黃少宇 美麗的海底世界:）

+Malaire Lexis All this would have not been possible without the architect of the univers...One whole univers, one planet earth giving to the children of man. God planed it that way..Adam in the garden of eden understood everything that the animals were saying to him, he was the one that gave them names. So we all were created to co-exist...The trees need their hydrogen and humans their and oxygen but both know that without water there won't be chlorophyl as a tree and no blood for human both life forms will suffer dehydration from the lack of an element that is crucial to their very existence, thus the term of "co-existing" becomes a must. Remember that created the whole world with love...And I really like the ideology of +mailis laos on this issue....My weapon is love...One love that is what the whole thing comes down to...I am looking forward for you to teach me a few words of your native language miss +shirley lo. Can we co-exist !!!

+John Freeman You have heard it be said that “Life is a Game”. But I say Life is a Serious Journey composed of many “Games”. The Game is a rest stop for whatever part of life you are “living within”. The key is to never believe that you can stay at that “rest stop” forever (your whole life). You have heard young boys say “I want to be a Professional Football Player” – and young girls say “I want to be a Nurse” – All games of life.

I say and have always said “I want to live my Journey” – So I have been in many different rewarding “games of life” but never became one of any particular Game. In other words I live the Journey of Life instead of a Game within Life - “A rest Stop”. Life is rewarding and when you know life you can communicate with all life by letting it exist in its world with the respect of love and the oneness of the Earth, and the Universe.

.................................................................................................+Peter Tsai Yes Atlanta is a cool place with lots of cool photo opportunities. If you go back, Little Five Points, Stone Mountain, Fernbank, and Piedmont Park are all good places to shoot. I went to middle school and high school there many memories. For example, here's what I shot the last time I went back: goo.gl/1GT12.................................................................................................+Rogier Rood What does art mean to you?

The quest continues... Can this picture be called art? Art, the way I like to define it:Nobody knows it for all, everybody feels it for themselves.Does that makes any sense? I keep searching to find the answer, if there is any. And I like to hear your thoughts about it!

What do you think about art? And what do you see in this picture, what does it do to you? Do you think it is a piece of art? I like to know, so please tell me!

My inspiration for this came from the biggest and greatest post I have seen so far on G+! Be sure to check out "co-existing" of +shirley lo over here: http://goo.gl/AliXjhttp://goo.gl/YZJA7.................................................................................................+Paul Simbeck-Hampson swam with these magnificient creatures in the open ocean.I spent many years teaching Scuba Diving in SE Asia. My first experience with a whale shark was in Thailand. On that particular dive we were at 30m surrounded by a swarm of jellyfish - not pleasant. Then she arrived, mouth open graciously gliding through the depths. I only got to see that particular Whale Shark (WS) for about 30-40 seconds, she was 10m above us. I instantly forgot all about the jellyfish, my natural reaction was to fin as hard as I could after her, which I did - on that day I was not quick enough and all I could do was watch her swim out of sight. Arriving later on the boat I'll never forget the sheer joy of having been in the same space of such beauty and elegance. From that moment on sharks, and particular, whale sharks became my passion.

A few months later, also in Thailand I was taking an overnight trip to the famous island of Koh Toa, near the island of Koh Samui. The trip was not fully booked and actually it was nearly cancelled. We were five on that trip, one French girl, two Israeli's, a Norwegian and myself. The two dives on the first day were nice, nothing out of the ordinary, but nice. That evening we grilled under the moonlight, drank a few glasses of local whisky and slept under the stars on the top canopy of the boat.

The morning dive was planned for 7am, a deep dive to 35m. The dive site was renowned within the instructor circles for WS sightings, although I'd been there often I'd never had any luck, some instructors had been hoping for years also with no luck! My group awoke late, recovering from one or two whiskies too many. At 7.30am we were kitted up and ready to dive. Another dive school was already moored at the site and had beaten us too it - I always liked to be first as you had a better chance to see bigger fish before they were scared off by humans in their space. My group had annoyed me a little as they had faffed around getting ready and no one was really that interested in diving!

As we descended I became aware of a group of divers huddled together in a circle some 50-100m away. They were completing their safety stop at 5m. It struck me as a little odd as they were so close to one another. I then looked in the direction they were looking and my eyes nearly fell out of my head! Two whale sharks. Mum and child. My regulator did fall out of my mouth as I stared in amazement. The protocol in this situation is for everyone to stay close together and observe quietly.

I gathered my little team together while watching the other dive school exit the water. I told my group to stay together and wait there, I'd be back in a moment or two - they nodded. The visibility, some 50-70m was fantastic, a deep dark blue - early mornings often gave the best clarity. The mother whale shark had retreat a little, she was around 5-7m in length, hard to be accurate at that distance, but large! The child was perhaps 4m and around 50m away. There was no land or island around we were in open water and at a depth of 10m. I left the group and begin slowly finning in her direction (to me she was a she, I can't be sure actually, but in my mind she was a she). I wasn't really sure what to expect next, but it was my instinct to say hello.

To my surprise she turned and started to also swim towards me, head on, mouth closed. When we were about 10m apart I stopped swimming and just hovered at around 15m. She also slowed down. Little by little we got closer until she made the first pass, the distance between us was perhaps 2m. I turned to watch her glide by. I then watched her turn and head back in my direction. This happened two or three times, each time I sat (hovered in a sitting like position) still and smiled at her. On the fourth occasion as she swam close I reached out a hand and stroked the length of her body - pure silk. She did not flinch or react badly, so I guess she liked it - she always had an eye on me - she had big eyes!

Feeling more confident that she was also enjoying the experience I waited until she passed again and this time I latched on to her side fin, holding on gently, I looked over her fin so she could see me, our eyes met, she was looking back at me. We glided slowly along for 40-50m - it was amazing. I looked at my watch and noticed I was now at 30m, my group was still huddled together. It was time to leave her. I let go and finned back to the group. The baby whale shark moved back towards her mum who had been watching the entire time - I'm sure with a little bit of anticipation for her baby! I signalled for the group to descend with me to 35m. We landed on the sand at the bottom and I just lay there with a huge grin on my face staring at the surface. Both whale sharks could be seen above us swimming freely.

After the allotted time, 10mins or so, we slowly started to make our way towards the surface. Again, Mum kept her distance, but baby was not finished with us - she even seem to know that we had to spend time in shallow water. We hovered around 7m, then 3m for as long as we all had air. The baby whale shark swam around us freely, everyone was able to stroke her gently, it was a very magical moment. As others began to run out of air they surfaced. I was last out of air and spent the last 5-7 minutes alone with my new friend. We had many eye-contact moments, we really connected with one another. No words were spoke, of course, but we had the most deep and meaningful conversation I've ever had with any creature on the planet - it was a purity that is seldom found amongst humans.

Eventually my air was gone - with one final stroke and a little wave I said goodbye. As I surfaced I'll never forget the noise that awaited me. It was like being at a world cup final. We cheered, we hugged, we laughed, we were the luckiest people on the planet that morning and we knew it. As I write these words, which I have to say I've not done before (so thanks for asking), a tear is in my eye and my heart is glowing. Now you know why the picture of a whale shark in a fish tank makes me feel a little queezy!

My love for the underwater world took me all over Asia, I followed the Whale shark trail to the Philippines and met up with them at their annual gathering place; a 50-60 whale shark gathering! No diving was allowed, but snorkelling was ok. I've dived with many different types of sharks and never once felt threatened, and although one could say I was lucky, I would say it was more a karma thing - they seemed to know I was there to learn from them and not there to disturb them, it seemed to put them at ease.

Currently my profession is consultancy, innovation, design, brand, data & learning technology. All that I learnt from my friends underwater I apply to helping humans connect better. I try to help bridge the gap of culture through better acceptance and understanding of our differences and importantly our similarities - the creatures of the sea were my best teachers - I thank them daily for the lessons they taught me. http://goo.gl/AliXj

+shirley lo wow, your post was even more enjoyable to read with the interspersing photos as well as your thought processes between our correspondences! :) i've included your blog post link into the post so that in all the shares of my photo, everyone can see your wonderful stories :)

the poem was written from the point of view of the whale shark, and was implicitly encouraging the reader to perhaps think from different points of view, including the shark's mind and imagine how he might feel. so you responded exactly the way i hoped some people would :) i couldn't help but know that it was being held in captivity and might not have been happy being there. i asked the staff about how the sharks might feel, and from what i understand, the aquarium inspires visitors to learn more about conservation and appreciate the beauty of the ocean, which in turn raises awareness and may perhaps save more of these creatures. there are even some purists that are against scuba diving as it disturbs the environment, and may mislead the creatures to possibly detrimental assumptions about human contact based on past experiences. however, we can all probably agree that these creatures deserve to be happy. hopefully through dialog and appreciation, we can all help more creatures to understand each other :)

+Paul Simbeck-Hampson Thank you for adding the link to the post and I'm pleased that the post came to life in way you liked. Sometimes pictures can help a story, as I'm sure you'll know, sometimes it's nice to let the mind create the pictures - ah, did I mention I'm also a photographer? A portrait photographer - possible one of the most (in) famous English photographer's here in Germany (actually the only one, doing what we do) - we have one of the most unusual photo businesses you could ever imagine - remind me to tell you all about it one day, I'm sure you'll love this story too :)

I liked your poem. I like it even more that I know the intent you had. To be really honest, I need to revisit the post now that I've done my 'save the Whale Shark' thing and really appreciate it what it for what your were expressing. In between I've skimmed your previous posts here on G+ and realised that I'm talking to a most wonderfully creative person - your posts add a new dimension in terms of quality, thoughtfulness and finesse - super!

If you'd really like to know, I think the Whale Sharks are absolutely fine where they are, but don't tell everyone. I don't think their consciousness allows them to question and I like that they have friends who are for sure fun to play with - even though I played it more along the lines of 'wow, three of them, that's not good' - It is only we as humans who are able to delve so deeply - they are fine and well looked after and as with many elements of nature, serving is often the highest reward.

However, this should not become a fad with every aquarium demanding to have such large creatures in tanks, especially my favourite one ;) - and I totally agree with your considered argument about divers. The truth be known, I was very naughty, and should never have engaged with the Whale Shark, those of us in the profession know this, but we also know how hard it is to resist the pull to be closer to nature. I'm well studied in the underwater world, and realise I disturbed the ecosystem, possibly for the worse - but on a deeper level - we did what both came very naturally to us - which is also important - I guess what I'm trying to say is, as with nature itself it's a fine balance.

You closing sentences resonate and I'd only like to add the word compassion to the mix - people should be as compassionate as much as they can, to as many as they can, for as long as they can.

+Elle D'Coda Submerged in the depths of "work" activity, reading your story was like surfacing to catch a breath of fresh air. The sheer majesty of such moments isn't meant to be kept "behind glass" either...it's the soul of story and essential nourishment. I'm quite sure there's a whale shark version of it being told in the high seas to this day. So glad you freed this tale."

+Asa Gislason I thoroughly enjoyed his narrative and photos. And yes, they were the luckiest people on the planet that morning (if not any morning), what a wonderful experience this must have been, what a great privilege. Thank you both :-)﻿___

resiliencewhat experience in your life seemed awful at the time, but in hindsight, was actually a very good thing for you?

these trees have been standing here for over a milleniumand withstanding forest fires has long since become routine.fire helps clear the ground for new trees and open pine cones so that the seeds can grow.sometimes, things that cause destruction may lead the way to new life

+PJ Ammidon There's almost always a silver lining +shirley lo :) Just sometimes have to look a little harder & longer for it!

+Tom Anderson Another SL + CL classic :-) I wish living without regret could be taught - some people seem to be able to see the past as constructive, others... more »

resiliencewhat experience in your life seemed awful at the time, but in hindsight, was actually a very good thing for you?

these trees have been standing here for over a milleniumand withstanding forest fires has long since become routine.fire helps clear the ground for new trees and open pine cones so that the seeds can grow.sometimes, things that cause destruction may lead the way to new life

+PJ Ammidon There's almost always a silver lining +shirley lo :) Just sometimes have to look a little harder & longer for it!

+Tom Anderson Another SL + CL classic :-) I wish living without regret could be taught - some people seem to be able to see the past as constructive, others don't...

+biswas shrestha there are only some people who can actually feel the rain, while other get wet..the pic of urs show s the brighter perspective toward the life

+Fabio Bucchieri I am a bit ashamed to admit that the first 3 days after my daughter Luna was born and we figured out she had Down Syndrome were a bit awful......Mainly 'cause it was totally unexpected. But if you ask me now if there was something in my life that I would like to change I will tell you that there are a few things but surely Luna is not one of them. After those first few days, she changed me (and my wife) in ways that I cannot even explain (all for the best of course :) ) properly. For instance I have started to REALLY enjoy life and appreciate everything we have, and the amount of love and affection that little Luna has been able to take out of me has surprised even myself. In short, Luna has definitely made a better person of me.If you have the time and you want to see Luna I have a few photos of her in my "People" album.

And what a splendid image once again! I love your style +shirley lo

+Dino Morrow Such a beautiful moment...that I can feel! ...just getting use to failure and mistakes as a truly good learning phase/experience.

+Meg Rousher Beautiful ShotThis question is very easy for me. I moved to Florida because one of my brothers told me how great Florida was and if I moved here I could stay with him and his family. I packed up my stuff & drove half was across the country, found a job & paid him the rent he asked for. I don't know what he did with the money but it wasn't long after I moved here when he came to me and said we are getting kicked out and I was on my own. I was devastated. I had no idea where I was going to live & had no friends or other family members in the state or this side of the country. It was the best thing that ever happened to me because it taught me to pay my bills before anything else or be homeless. It's been a long time since that happened but I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Amazingly I do have fond memories of those peanut-butter years :)

My difficult departure from a 19 year career in corporate american opened up a door to my volunteer work in a nonprofit organization in Egypt. I can't imagine my life without the Egypt experiences...

+Ron Bearry In 2001 I was layed off from my job as the dotcom days fizzled. What I've learned is that when one door closes another one always opens.

The important thing is to remain creative and engaged so that you see that door opening. If you get in a funk or become too jaded you will miss it.

I have a better job now and even found time to finish my MBA. Great photograph!

+Jon Gauntt Sometimes you have to spend the time growing so you can be appreciative later. In the last year we moved my wife's grandparents in with us and then along came her mother. Two with diabetes (that do their best to ignore it), one with middle stages alzheimers and one that just won't quit! We love the grandmother that just won't quit (she ran a daycare until she was 81 and we forced her to change) and we are building character with the others. Life is full of opportunities and there is always a brighter side to anything. Learn to say no to yourself and say yes to others and you'll find that life had more in store for you than you ever imagined.

An interesting thing I learned about redwoods recently is that they do not have a taproot like most of the trees I am familiar with. Instead of sending their roots down, they send them out. With roots reaching out as long as the tree is tall it doesn't take long before there is a network of roots with other trees. The tree doesn't hold itself up, the whole community holds all of the trees up together. Make sure you take time to send out your roots to others, you never know when you will need them.

+Chris Mcadams Everytime we fail. It can seem like a disaster at the time, but its not normally as bad as we think. It might end up taking you down a different path in life, but you never know who you'll meet along that path.

+Suze P Reminds me of that quote from Eat, Pray Love.. "Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation" :O)

+Kirsten Bowers they say what doesn't kill us makes us stronger :-))a lesson learned in hindsight, when enough time has passed and healing is well under way...a beautiful image +shirley lo ... i love the mood, looking forward to the light...

+Boris Bax +Elizabeth Snader i like thinking yes, they do. Why not?+PJ Ammidon totally agree+Tom Anderson relating to your past is quite difficult, anyone has a personal way to live on it, imho.

still looking at the picture...

+Josh Walker +Tom Anderson i usually find the past isn't too hard to see as constructive. I have trouble with the present sometimes, though. O.o

+shirley lo thanks for the reminder :)

+*** Experiences...all i think of at this time is when i was going to school, people used to pick on me alot. i was a total loner. had few friends. riding the bus was traumatizing also...finally in high school, my mom had to drive me and pick me up because it got so bad...the good thing from that is that it made me appreciate the person who i am now. i went thru alot of crap. depression, alcoholism, lonliness, but im better...i have became the person i always wanted to be...i wish that my momma was here to see it, maybe she is...im glad i have my family here to support me. and friends who i trust and love...i never had that before. learning alot about the real life im supposed to live...having sober adventures like never before...ive learned about honesty and trust...and caring for someone which i thought was never possible...never knew i had it in me.

+Ajeesh Kumar i feel like i would go and hug that tree.... he's like a very very very very very old grandfather ain't he? i would want to feel the peace, calmness and joy that his spirit spreads around him for all beings... want to sit in the coolness of his shadow imagining his life through the histories... imagining how his obstacles gave him power to overcome, imagining how God has given his attributes to him and others alike to sustain themselves, which actually is the key factor how we are having a sustained living now..., gracefully... :)

+Serge Ivanov I love how it seems like you two are making a fascinating discovery in this shot!

I didn't really know how to answer the question right away. What comes to mind now is how awful I thought it was moving away from the city as a teenager. Since I lacked a car, there weren't many things to do that I found interesting. Because of the lack of audiovisual stimulation of big city lights I had to create my own.

I explored writing, drawing, and more recently, photography. It also helped me concentrate on maths and sciences which led to my job in the technology industry. I can't really say that the experience made me good at any one thing, but I think it allowed me to explore different interests and developed me into a well-rounded and slightly more interesting individual than if I had stayed in the city.

Now that I am back among the skyscrapers, I am better able to appreciate all of the sights and sounds. I find aesthetic and mathematical beauty in everything I see, and I believe this ability enriches my life profoundly.

+John Freeman What happened in my life; to my life 22 years ago, seemed completely devastating. Yet, now, it has enriched me, life and my love for my fellow human beings, the ecological system, the Earth, and even the Universe. For all that “I” Built was torn down and destroyed. Now I have it all! I could never have generated this life on my own. Only the “Creator’s Universe” could have done this for me. The “fire” renewed my forest and gave new life to my “Tree of Life” for now “I AM”.

+Matthew Neason Destruction is a form of creation; an art form woven into the souls of mankind. We all become stronger through strife and difficulty, but only the strongest and luckiest trees resist the flames and catch the glinting sunlight anew.

+Randall Sanger Beautiful image, I've enjoyed reading all the wonderful comments . . . this speaks to me, reminds me of the new direction my life took a few years ago, and it's been an amazing journey!

+Sumit Sen We have a very old Banyan tree in our city (Kolkata, India) called the Great Banyan Tree. It is the largest Banyan tree in the world in terms of area covered and has a circumference of 1 kilometre. The main trunk died many years ago, but the aerial roots that had spread out kept the tree alive and well. Life is like that. It begets new life and the cycle continues.Lovely image.

+Scott Durham if at any time you think your world is coming down around you...the smoke is choking the life out of youthe fire is chars you fleshthe light of day diminishes more with every passing second...remain resilient stay strong never ever give up...the light of day will shine upon your face once more

we can only imagine what the stars have seenfrom the glaciers carving these cliffs millions of years agoto the awahnichi, miwok, paiute and mono tribes tending to the landto the 1800s when yosemite inspired the first national parks.we're only a blip in time and may never cross paths with each otherbut we're all connected by the stars above us

+shawn m. robicheaux trying to leave a good legacy behind! doing good deeds for others when they need it most!

+Tom Anderson My mind has been racing; many thoughts and emotions this morning; but no time to share them! Oops! So, I thought I'd put up this pic I took... more »

connected by stars

in 50 years, what do you want to be remembered for?

we can only imagine what the stars have seenfrom the glaciers carving these cliffs millions of years agoto the awahnichi, miwok, paiute and mono tribes tending to the landto the 1800s when yosemite inspired the first national parks.we're only a blip in time and may never cross paths with each otherbut we're all connected by the stars above us

+shawn m. robicheaux trying to leave a good legacy behind! doing good deeds for others when they need it most!

+Tom Anderson My mind has been racing; many thoughts and emotions this morning; but no time to share them! Oops! So, I thought I'd put up this pic I took at Yosemite on New Years Eve. Pretty amazing what a camera can capture in low-light these days. I didn't even know this was technically possible with my camera. (It's a Nikon D3S which is supposed to be great at low-light exposure.) This is a single exposure, not an HDR compilation of pics. Here's another exposure I took on the same night that I already shared with a more "natural" look: http://bit.ly/AnjTF8 Here's one +shirley lo and +Charles Lu took at the same spot: http://bit.ly/A6sjZb and here's one from +Trey Ratcliff before the sun went down: http://bit.ly/wy5uVG Are those shooting stars? Your guess is as good as mine. goo.gl/mFKqs

+Andrew Clifton-Brown Being a better man than my father.

+Philipp Weimer Being remembered 50 years after my death would be nice already :)

+Chris Hoffmann Just lovely! Thanks so much for sharing your work. (I would like to be remembered for loving life so that others might go on to do the same. :)

+Noel 'Gene' Borja Lungay In 50 years, I simply wish to be forgotten... but I do implore those who I work with and those who would carry on, to always remember those that we have vowed to help through life. I am on a mission with some close childhood friends to help very poor school children get the proper education... For myself, being remembered for at least one day is already a blessing.

I wish you a very splendid day Shirley, and I wish you tons of creative energy and inspiration.

+Amanda Torbitt Beautiful! I'd want to be remembered as a good/kind person.

+Duff Ashfox So heartwarming. Really nice... A star, to be remembered like a star, like those in the pic would be great...=>+Kerry Murphy This is so beautiful, +shirley lo and I love the similarity in composition that it has with the image you posted in the fall. This is a really tough question but if I answer it in the 'now' moment I'd say I'd like to be remembered for being a good mom. That will really only impact a small number of people but it is something that I work on every single day.

+Benny Sjöstrand Beautiful! The sky is amazing looking at all those stars so clear.When I look at the sky, there is billions of stars, galaxies, and we still don't know if there are other worlds and civilizations out there.Probably no one can imagine how G+ will be in 10 or 20 years.I hope to be remembered after my death for something good and valuable, but I have really no idea what's going to happen in the future.

+Meg Rousher Beautiful CaptureI would rather leave memories than be remembered for something. Thinking back on the people in my life I no longer see weather they have moved on or passed on the memories we made together means more to me than anything.. Leaving your friends and family loved & happy is the best gift we can give to the future :)

+Josh Bigoss I'd rather not be remembered at all than to be remembered as an asshole. I hope to be remembered as I remember my grandpa, unflappable devotion, kind, and thoughtful.

+Quoss Wimblik I'd like to be remembered for helping make us better connected with star to star communication using quantum entanglement properties of stars in galaxies.

+dene' miles What a gorgeous work of art Shirley!! I'd love to be remembered as the best "words with friends" player ever, clearly i have a LONG way to go :)

I hope not to be remembered in 50 years, because I am young and am kind of hoping to still be around! If not, then I would hope that I passed on my love of visual art (or anything creative) to at least one person. I also want to leave behind the following ideas:

In addition to your family and health, free time is the most valuable thing you have. Don't waste it.-Create more than you consume; refuse to sit on the sidelines of life.-Invest time in people, love what you do, and everything else will fall into place.

+Dino Morrow Aloha Shirley and thank you for sharing such a special moment! You have captured much of the sense of such a powerful place...and at night! I would like to live up to the honor as a person who embodies the practices of Aloha ... every day. :)Aloha Shirley! I would love to share about this, simple yet complex, concept of practices called aloha...Truly a lifetime of learning is never enough but I find it universally a beautiful way to live or at least try... :) Here is a link to what seems the most comprehensive explanation... http://goo.gl/EaiwU. Enjoy! If can, listen to Auntie Pilahi's recording right after the first paragraph...powerful! I think as Hawai'i and the world changes...we all can gain from such beautiful practices... Mahalo for asking, Shirley! Malama pono my friend.

+Lavina Street someone who made a difference for my people. a good example of how someone can change their life.

+Michelle Torio Very beautiful and dreamy photo +shirley lo. It's incredible and I wish I could take pictures this well, too. Yes, we are all connected by stars no matter where we are. They continue to guide us (astrology) and light our way (astronomy). :)In 50 years, I wanted to be remembered for something good I have done, no matter how small it is and through it, inspire others to do the same...the circle of life.

+Johannes Cervantes I've been going through your pics and I have to say I'm absolutely blown away by them. Your work is awe inspiring, it makes me think heaven can't be anywhere but down here, in earth. We just gotta learn to appreciate it :)

+Tim Behrens You have such a beautiful way on including people in your pictures.... Whenever I see a place or scene like this, the first thought that comes into my head is either that I'm thankful I have someone there to share it with, or, if I'm alone, how I wish that I did.... When confronted with such incredibly humbling sights, or momentarily awakened to how small and brief we are, there is still comfort in sharing that awe with someone. In all the vastness that is space and time, that moment and vantage point is ours to share. Really, really beautiful picture.

+Robert Edwards Many things are valuable;however, photography is amazing.

trees for wood and shadewaterfalls as a water sourcemountains for securityand a meadow for building a resort town

settlers in the 1800s danced the night away under the starssoon the town became too popular and destroyed the ecosystemthe village was relocated, and the area slowly recoverednow, a stroll through the meadow trails re-energizes the mindthankfully we can sometimes rejuvenate nature so that nature can rejuvenate us

+Benny Sjöstrand Beautiful shot, you and Charlie looks so happy, like a in movie!Photographic activity has definitely become a recharger, a way to disconnect from work, relax, and also ... more »

rejuvenation

what kinds of things recharge your spirits?

trees for wood and shadewaterfalls as a water sourcemountains for securityand a meadow for building a resort town

settlers in the 1800s danced the night away under the starssoon the town became too popular and destroyed the ecosystemthe village was relocated, and the area slowly recoverednow, a stroll through the meadow trails re-energizes the mindthankfully we can sometimes rejuvenate nature so that nature can rejuvenate us

+Benny Sjöstrand Beautiful shot, you and Charlie looks so happy, like a in movie!Photographic activity has definitely become a recharger, a way to disconnect from work, relax, and also get outs and enjoy the nature. I think 2012 will be a very exciting year, there are so many things going on. I'm looking forward to spend a lot of time with my son, do my best to be a good father :)

+Serge Ivanov Your shots are always filled with such positive energy +shirley lo, and this one is no exception! Looks like a lot of fun.

To recharge my spirits I head out at night for walks, usually with a camera, as many on G+ do. There's something about the relative quiet of night and all the gorgeous neon colors bouncing off of everywhere that makes me feel alive. Something else that I like doing is finding some happy-sounding music and singing along as loudly and obnoxiously as I can without annoying the neighbors. That one's a secret, so don't tell anyone ;)

+Mark Esguerra Hmm, well, my favorite place is a forest area in the middle of Tokyo. Even in the middle of that city it gets rather peaceful there. I can just sit walk around there and sit on a bench for hours. ;-) While at home, a nice walk around Griffith Park is a nice way to recharge as well. ;-)

+Jerry Johnson I enjoy taking my children out on family photo-walks. It really forces me to slow down and take in the surroundings and it is also helping me share my love of photography with my family. When our two year old gets a little older, my wife will be able to join us! :)

+D. DeMonteverde What rejuvenates me? Went to my Zumba class tonight and got recharged. After dance I went for a spiritual recollection, prayer and meditation session. Dance clears my mind and prayer/meditation lifts my spirit and rejuvenates me

+Kerry Murphy This is beautiful, +shirley lo!! Nature is definitely a big rejuvenator for me as is creativity whether it be in the form of photography, baking, knitting, etc. And yoga. That time and space just for me to honor how I'm feeling in that moment and work with it. And in the summer... swimming! Something about the freedom of swimming is incredibly rejuvenating to me.

+Michelle Torio Such a lovely and happy photo +shirley lo! Just like a shot from the movie or a story book. :) Well, nature proved to be very therapeutic for me. I love exploring the mountains and the beach...Even the long, scenic route drive to go there always rejuvenates my spirit in an instant. This, and spending time with my loved ones are the ultimate re-charger.

+Ajeesh Kumar i think, Mother Nature make us feel an ego-less mind, looking at the natural lives of these plants and animals and the beauty of Nature itself, we come out of our complex life we have in our mind, created for our existence, and feel the natural way of simple living.. we feel peaceful, leaving all worries.. i think true life is as much simple as that of a growing grass...

+Dhopy Nepp I think one of the things that feeds me is still to believe in peopleAnd the beauty that surrounds usIf we are willing to look

+Meg Rousher Wonderful shot. To recharge my spirit all I need is a walk on the beach with a camera or two. Listening to the waves and the birds seems to do the trick every time :)

+Tom Hallam Beautiful photo. I think it captures the essence of two things that help me recharge. Exploring nature and spending time with loved ones.

+Melody Migas Lovely photo! I like to get outside to recharge. The beach, the woods, nearby park, or even the backyard. Also dinner out with a waterfront view.

+Ron Bearry I'm a simple guy so I am content with a long mountain bike ride on a clear Spring day.

+Mark Esguerra - Very cute shot! It looked like a great time was had by all! ;-) It really is nice to be able to get away and escape the city to places like that. Nature is what recharges me! ;-)

+Sara Olinger I love this photo of you & Charles +shirley lo really nice-- for me it's rest, meditation, nature, taking photos, and Love... that rejuvenate me, leaving on a trip to India in 3 weeks (exhilarating, scary, mysterious, brave, heart-pounding moments) happy new year to you -- smiles

+Christoph Diewald Your photo really transmits joy and energy - lovely! As to your question: I am getting more and more into the habit to stop periodically what I am doing, and to become simply aware of my breathing and my body for a minute or so. Hoping for the mind to stop also for a little while. Other than that, I love to grab my camera and wander through a fascinating savanna forest here in Brasilia that has the highly unlikely name of "Botanical Garden" - it is almost no such thing, but it is a constant source of wonderful experiences with the observation of plant and animal life, in complete silence.

+John Freeman By the Way I love your photos; very good indeed! I recharge several ways. First by listening to Beautiful Chinese Music (Traditional); Looking at The Music Video “Grey Street” by the Dave Matthews Band, (I know it is suppose to be a sad song but there is Energy in the video that I cannot explain); Listening to New Age Music. Then Being Creative with my Software Engineering, my Electrical Engineering and my development applications for my business. Quietly Speaking to dear friends (of which You Shirley are one in my composing) And finally studying all of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Sound silly but that is me taking and giving; again and again.

traditionsmy tree is back from vacationbut looks like one of the ornaments is running off to take her own

whether it be christmas, hanukkah, kwanzaa, winter solstice, or even festivusmany people celebrate this season with a holiday or two, or three :)

what are your fun and interesting holiday traditions?

+Charles Lu--what others are doing this holiday season

+Anne-Marie Janssen In Spain they eat a grape with every beat of the clock....you have to be fast to swallow them!

+Serge Ivanov Whenever I eat at my parents' house on Christmas eve, my mom has a tradition of baking some sort of thin round bread with a coin inside, which has been washed thoroughly of course. Then she proceeds to break off pieces by hand for each family member, and whoever gets the piece with coin is said to bring good fortune or... more »

traditionsmy tree is back from vacationbut looks like one of the ornaments is running off to take her own

whether it be christmas, hanukkah, kwanzaa, winter solstice, or even festivusmany people celebrate this season with a holiday or two, or three :)

what are your fun and interesting holiday traditions?

+Charles Lu--what others are doing this holiday season

+Anne-Marie Janssen In Spain they eat a grape with every beat of the clock....you have to be fast to swallow them!

+Serge Ivanov Whenever I eat at my parents' house on Christmas eve, my mom has a tradition of baking some sort of thin round bread with a coin inside, which has been washed thoroughly of course. Then she proceeds to break off pieces by hand for each family member, and whoever gets the piece with coin is said to bring good fortune or prosperity to the family during the coming new year. This year the coin fell to me, so the pressure's on! Of course, all that really matters is for everyone to be happy and healthy; anything else is merely secondary in importance.

+max devine I change the theme of my tree every year...mostly to match my decor, but in the past we have had rubber duckie tree (do not ask where I stuck the light on the giant rubber duckie at the top)...plastic fruit was fun lol...this year I am gold and bronze...next year it will be glass and white...LOVE CHRISTMAS!

+Todd Nicoletti We dont do anything different for the christmas, etc season but for new years we cook hot dogs, kielbassa, pork roast and sauerkraut. This is eaten for luck with mashed potatoes seasoned with horseradish usually.

+Benny Sjöstrand Thank you! This year we stay with family eating a lot of fish dishes. The best will be see my 2.5 years old kid opening the Christmas presents we bought to him, I really see forward to those moments :)

+Víktor Bautista i Roca I'm Catalan, so we beat a log with sticks till it shits sweets and gifts...The log is been fed for a couple of weeks before christmas day. Oranges, tangerines, nuts... So, he is very very full and has to shit all the sweets and gifts :-) Tomorrow I'll write a post about it, well, about the way we do it in our family. Also, in the Nativity scenes, we have a guy in traditional dress shitting in a corner.

+Adeel Qureshi well It depends on which school of thought you are following in :) Islam , for me best days in life are holy month ramzan & our holy festival of EID. rest in the independence day on 14th of August :)

+Summer Rain well :"> it's the traditional New year holidays :) welcome to the new year and receive lucky money from our parents and older relatives :))﻿

+T. Kh Here, we celebrate Christmas and Yalda together. Yalda is the longest night of the year and also the last night of the Autumn. +shirley loTonight, is Yalda.Happy Christmas and happy Yalda, dear +shirley lo.

+KC Wu It's winter solstice today, and in Taiwan traditionally people eat tangyuan (glutinous rice balls in soup) together with family. I just had a big, hot, sweet bowl of tangyuan for dinner :) When I was a kid, I was so happy to eat colorful tangyuan because parents in Taiwan have been telling kids that they will become one year older after eating tangyuan in winter solstice. But now I wish I will become one year younger after having tangyuan. :) Merry Christmas to Shirley, Charles, and all the friends here!

+Elena Konstantinova We have Hanukkah now, and it's common to eat doughnuts , make potato pancakes ("latkes"), and every day lighten one more candle in menorah. But I haven't eat doughnuts, just have taken a picture :)

+Duff Ashfox Happy Holidays Ms Shirley Lo!In the Philippines, its really a family bonding time; such has been a time long tradition of ours. However, the Filipino People are quiet sad about the recent tragedy specially over the Philippine's southern area. Thus, as much as we are rejoicing this season, its really not an absolute happy celebration. Still, for the most of the Filipino families not affected, we are most thankful to God for keeping us safe, and to enjoy the moment with our family.

+Jose Martinez Lovely, Shirley. My fun is travel along the northern coast of Spain to watch the wild waves beating.

+David D. Stanton Mine are quite an odd mix from two faiths. But I am just one. :)

+Lisa RedWillow I will be with family. Santa came early and Im off to Kauai in January sometime. Hope yours is wonderful

+Paras Shah Thank you +shirley lo for asking. Well, holiday is all about spending time with family/friends. That is what i am planning to do... And if time permits, may be a quick trip to either Grand Canyon/Vegas/Big Bear mountains ;)

+Anne-Marie Janssen That Christmas tree looks like one big present to pick from. I bought mine somewhere in the open fields. When I came home it was bigger than i thought. So had to cut the top and remove furniture. No we can play hide and seek.

+Leslie Taylor I'm doing my best to stay in the Christmas spirit this year! This year I am in Florida visiting with my parents - it's 70 degrees this week! But we still have a tree and lights up :)

+Daniel Chen Yay, glad to hear your tree is back :)We just put up our first Christmas tree as a family, so I think that will become part of our holiday ritual. Other than that, have a low key dinner with close friends and family, and watch the Christmas Story :)

+Michelle Torio - Merry Christmas, Shirley! :) Well, our big tree hasn't come back from its vacation yet...so we just settle with our little Christmas tree, instead. As usual, will spend it with the family over a traditional dinner and gift-giving program. There'll be lots of singing and dancing, as well. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Holiday season! :)

+Dave Powell Tree, Presents, etc... We will order some nice fancy food from the Department Store for a Christmas dinner. It probably won't be a traditional Christmas dinner but should nice. Happy Holidays!

+Mark Esguerra Hmm, well does eating count as a tradition? He he. It's a bit rare that I get any home cooked meals these days so when Christmas arrives, if I'm able to visit close friends, I really enjoy eating some wonderful home cooked Christmas meals. he he. ;-P

+Hai Vu Nice pic. For fun this Christmas holiday, I will be hoping to take tons of photos, doodling a bit, play some hockey with my son, make my kids laugh, playing some guitar, G+ a bit. You know just the usual geeky stuff.

+shawn m. robicheaux watch the games on tv, enjoy company from close friends and be cheerful.

+Tiffany Henry Nothing much this year +shirley lo just staying at home with my immediate family :-)

+Jon Keytoe I love to have a vocation with the one I show my heart to, but don't want to go home yet. But I know I need to home to see my parents and I cannot have such a holiday with my best love. But anyway in a holiday you can rest for a while and think for a while about what you will do tomorrow. Yeah, you always show good things here. Thanks!

+mardiansyah M for my vacation to a place where we can enjoy the beauty of the peak height of the mountain ..

+Daymond Decker I am home for Christmas:). I have been spending a lot of time in DC. Glad to be home!

a frozen momentwe can capture moments in visuals, sounds, and wordsbut some memories lie on the edge of being recalled

the awe of playing your first video gamethe taste of a long lost recipe

what aspects of your favorite memories do you wish you could fully recall?

+Charles Lu--some memories others have shared:

+Todd Nicoletti I wish we all had perfect recall of the moment we realized how special someone is to us so we would be less likely to become cross with one another.

+Serge Ivanov Adorable, and all the lights are awesome.As for your question, all I really would want to know is if my favorite memories are even real. When I first learned of confabulation, it really disturbed me that many of my memories are likely partially, if not entirely, made up. I think I'd be pretty devastated if I knew... more »

a frozen momentwe can capture moments in visuals, sounds, and wordsbut some memories lie on the edge of being recalled

the awe of playing your first video gamethe taste of a long lost recipe

what aspects of your favorite memories do you wish you could fully recall?

+Charles Lu--some memories others have shared:

+Todd Nicoletti I wish we all had perfect recall of the moment we realized how special someone is to us so we would be less likely to become cross with one another.

+Serge Ivanov Adorable, and all the lights are awesome.As for your question, all I really would want to know is if my favorite memories are even real. When I first learned of confabulation, it really disturbed me that many of my memories are likely partially, if not entirely, made up. I think I'd be pretty devastated if I knew some of my fondest childhood memories never really happened. My self image and understanding of self is mostly defined by a collection of memories, so it's quite a disturbing thought =)

+Boyd Greene My favorite memories with my grandfather were his iron character, his stories, the way he helped everybody and his rare admonitions that he never repeated but you never forgot!

+Amanda Torbitt Wow, how lovely. <3Some semi recent favorite memories are- Seeing a cousin of mine for the first time in years. The weddings of my two nieces. Most of my most happy memories involve friends and family.

+Rico Lauchu cute photo. I wish I could recall every sensory aspect of a memory; like being there watching outside of myself as a 3rd observer what is happening. There are so many memories that aren't as clear as I'd like so I wish I could go back and see and hear what really happened. If what I think happened really did…Well a good memory I have that I'd like to see again would be my wedding day from the moment I woke up to the moment I fell asleep with my wife. I try to go over it once in a while in my head so I don't forget the details. I think my favorite part about our wedding was that we washed one another's feet as a sign of humility and loving service to one another.

+Jon Keytoe I appreciate this kind of feeling inside a human heart. Memories though beautiful even enchanting, cannot be recalled fully even though can be recalled partially. Sometimes I get little sad about them, sometimes I get so excited about such things when I share them with my friends and people who would love to listen to my stories attentively and joyfully! On the whole memories are very good and can always leave some patch of land for us to stay in and dream of the things that people without them must envy. Your words are real touching!

+Olivier Malinur Shirley, this is so intimate, so deep question. I will say 3 moments. I will say I would like to go back when I was 12-13 in Djibouti and Ethiopia where my dad was working. It was a time where we were not caring, were we could spend our afternoon snorkeling on coral reefs or searching for delicately beautiful shells from the Red Sea. All was so simple. Gosh, how much I don't like english, it's so easy to spoil a beautifully crafted sentence and make it look like a common cheap necklace of words.

+Silex Anthropos current mmmm ... i'm looking a picture who looks nearly like wonderful ice cave :Pmore seriously, one moment i'll probably never forget is when i got hit by a green ray, just at the moment the sun falls into the sea at fall of the night, i wish i'll be enough lucky to see it again someday =)

+Amanda Torbitt Wow, how lovely. <3Some semi recent favorite memories are- Seeing a cousin of mine for the first time in years. The weddings of my two nieces. Most of my most happy memories involve friends and family.

+Moses Gibs yes, you're right dear Shirley, also some friends count even more then our family, because they are always there for us, i mean present. it is said: 'some time friendship counts more then a family'

+Pero Meditatić First taste of strawberry ice cream,the sound of the sunrise in the desertcolor of the first spring rains,Touch the first flakes of snow,smile of a little child ...Synesthesia :-)Enjoy my favorite memories +shirley lo Beautiful images, even nicer verses. Thanks for sharing +shirley lo andcontinue with this wonderful work....

in the heart of light,beneath the snow,kisses exchangedlike never beforeCharles Lu andShirley Lo:-)﻿___

+Mark Esguerra Great shot! Such incredible designs here! I try to stay grounded in the present, but I must admit that as I get older I can't help but look to the past AND the future! he he. ;-P

+Kathryn Brown beautiful composition. I tend to care less about my past as a limiting factor in who I am and instead embrace the strengths it has given me. I am learning not to fear the future but rather know that each day brings me closer to my destined... more »

travellingsome say look forward, never look back others say live only in the moment still others consider all three

our senses can only take in so muchso how much weight do you give to your past, present, and futurehow will the formula change as you progress through life?

+Mark Esguerra Great shot! Such incredible designs here! I try to stay grounded in the present, but I must admit that as I get older I can't help but look to the past AND the future! he he. ;-P

+Kathryn Brown beautiful composition. I tend to care less about my past as a limiting factor in who I am and instead embrace the strengths it has given me. I am learning not to fear the future but rather know that each day brings me closer to my destined existence. Both of these make living in the present that much sweeter. :)

+Tsunyu Chou How poetic. The past is not relevant, I don’t think I have too much of a future, but looking forward for some and live mostly in the present. I really like this image, standing at present and a view into the past or future, all depend on each individual’s point of view. Great shot.

+Amanda Torbitt I normally live in the moment- because it's the only time you have any semi instant control over; Remember the past- Lessons to be learned, happiness to remember, hope can be drawn from experience; and Plan for the future, even if it isn't guaranteed. All are important in their own ways.

+DL Foster "Look how far I've come" or could it be "look how far I have to go".

+Ajeesh Kumar In this present moment I can see my past in my memories and my future in my 'imagination and determination'... So, i think the life is all about the "present moment"... Not past nor future.. nice thought...

+Daniel Enloe I can't imagine the formula changing... but I primarily live in the present tense with some of forethought on the future.. The past is what it is and can only be relied upon for reference....but not definition.There is a song called Present Tense by Pearl Jam... check it out

+Melissa M. Van Der Linden Mine would definitely be a blend of the three. Don't think it'll change.. how I refer to the past, how I plan for the future, and how I live in the present all are part of me. (:

+C. Michael Croston The tendency is to look to your past as you grow older. I think that is because you have more and more to draw upon as you age. Being aware of that fact and making plans for the future helps you maintain your youth, I believe. Even if physically challenged, a forward thinking attitude is invaluable, tempered with experience. A very interesting portal to ponder +shirley lo . Great perspective. I like your hat. :)

+*** well when you are a child you only look at the present,then as a teenager you glimpse at the past,live in the present but look to the future,but as you get older you find yourself looking more at the past,living briefly in present but avoiding to look at the future !

+Rogier Rood Being in the present, that's from where the art is born.

+Serge Ivanov I'm really terrified of heights, and this image gave me that feeling. Despite this, I kept on staring at it for a while.I tend to look at my past very fondly, disregard the present, and think about the future occasionally. This is kind of stupid, because we only really live in the present; the past is gone, and the future is not guaranteed. I should probably work on being more spontaneous. Thanks for making us all stop and think for a minute =)

+Vivienne Gucwa Wow! Epic image with a strong sense of infinity. We live in the 'now' but sometimes we have to swim in the past a bit to fly towards the future.

+Ant Worth I like looking up, many people look down in day to day life, but not I :))

+Elmer Mercado It would be a positive outlook in looking forward in the coming year, but you still need to look back, and reassess or re-group what you have accomplished or not, and re-built what you have left behind

+John Freeman We know all, our awareness is limited. How does your toes feel? Knowing & Awareness to very different states of mind. Then mind know all that happens to the body! So to repeat; All time is present at once, Past, Present, Future (Einstein), we are just not aware. Intuition? Hum. How can this be. Possibly awakened Awareness of Time! Please Excuse Me I Am speaking from Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Biology, the ancient history of the Shaman with the wisdom of my life: A Biologist, Chemist, Embedded Systems Programmer, Computer Scientist, and Software Engineer. Oh am I correct to assert that in Chinese, Verb has no tense (Past, Present, Future) Maybe the Chinese knew what Einstein Learned about time!﻿___

+Joseph R That which moves see the mountain tops, but however: That which site still never know more than a thought..I read that from the pic. They speak to me spiritually and that was what I saw as I looked.

+Abraham Ponniah it takes time to fully/truly appreciate anything, the tricky part is showing that appreciation before that thing is taken from you!On that note, great job on the picture! Really enjoy your pictures and thought provoking 'write-ups'!:D

+Exodus Williams We humans we merely see a Panda (wild beast) and a pumkin... more »

bamboo is all i know

but now that you're herewho might you be?you're worth a trymaybe we can be friends

+Joseph R That which moves see the mountain tops, but however: That which site still never know more than a thought..I read that from the pic. They speak to me spiritually and that was what I saw as I looked.

+Abraham Ponniah it takes time to fully/truly appreciate anything, the tricky part is showing that appreciation before that thing is taken from you!On that note, great job on the picture! Really enjoy your pictures and thought provoking 'write-ups'!:D

+Exodus Williams We humans we merely see a Panda (wild beast) and a pumkin (organic inatimate object), what we fail to understand is they are equal. The Panda (much like me, Im a Panda) wants to love and protect and cherish, and the Pumpkin wants to grow and be a source of viatality. They are a part of each other. Or maybe I dont know anything. They both have challenges to be seen and heard. Your question was, what took time for us to appreciate. I will honestly tell you "self". It took me time to understand who I am, and why I am. Thank you for the reminder. Lovely shot.

+Philipp Weimer oh my.. this is a great shot. Reminds of that guy who stranded on an island and had a volleyball as friend. What was the movie again?What is fascinating is, that it is the pumkin seems to communicate with the panda as well :)

----------------------------------------

+jonas eggen This animal reminds me of Buddhist monks. It's ancestors eat meat, but now they are on a strict vegetarian diet. low sex drive and prefers to sit and meditate. As a kid in school we had to make a stuffed toy animal, and I chose this one as it was my favorite animal, thanks to WWF. But I didn't finish it in time, so it became a polar-bear instead.

The polar bear is almost like a whit grisly bear and they can have cubs together, they are that close, so the panda is much smaller. But then compared with a red panda, as its not even a bear, the "normal" panda is closer to any other bear. o-0 I say some times that the panda wants to break the chain of rebirth, literally, as If not producing many offsprings, less pandas are suffering. Maybe they even got as far as no meditation is needed anymore, just pure emptiness, except for the occasional bamboo.﻿___

+Carla Usery I never want that cycle to change. I find the predictably of that change alternately comforting and energizing!

+Kerry Murphy Gorgeous! Change is hard but it is so constant it is better not to get hung up on things not changing. I could create a pretty big list but at the end of it would surely realize there is beauty in things changing too. :)... like my kids growing up! It's very bittersweet but it has to happen. Or summer ending, but without that occurring, there would be no fall. Or that... more »

every year

every year these mountains go througha wardrobe of leaves before going barea predictable and reassuring juxtaposition of change and stability

+Carla Usery I never want that cycle to change. I find the predictably of that change alternately comforting and energizing!

+Kerry Murphy Gorgeous! Change is hard but it is so constant it is better not to get hung up on things not changing. I could create a pretty big list but at the end of it would surely realize there is beauty in things changing too. :)... like my kids growing up! It's very bittersweet but it has to happen. Or summer ending, but without that occurring, there would be no fall. Or that bowl of ice cream changing to empty. ;) Change gives us the opportunity to experience new things. :)

+Dino Morrow thank you for sharing such a soothing and emotional image...I am sure it was amazing just to be there. Sometimes when I am around beauty in nature you can almost hear it. It seems like you two could hear the beauty! To answer your question...I hope the practice of Aloha will never change. And if it does, may it change in strength and usage. :)

+George Manlangit The sun goes to rest along beds ofChanging hues as season changeI rest with you with this assuranceMy love for you will never changeNow, how can I get my wife to sit like this with me?

+Serge Ivanov If only all of us could be so lucky to be happy and surrounded by beauty all of the time. This capture really makes me appreciate those awesome little moments when I realize I don't really need that much to enjoy this journey!

+Duff Ashfox peace. And being solemn. How i wish such will never change.Nice pics. =>

+alfredo guzman rincon mmmmmmmmmmmm i don't like to change my lifestyle it's very nice for me and special when i can eat a lot of chocolates

+Silex Anthropos under a thousand stars, a tree to reach the sky,a town not so far

+Kab Yaj The composition, colors, and starry night sky...beautiful! I don't know if anyone can see it, but I see a little boy hunching over squatting on his legs on the ground holding a big ball from the formation of the stars! It's 45 degrees angle to the left of the tree and you have to tilt your head 45 degrees to the right of the tree to see it. LOL

+Anna Lowry And on that note +shirley lo, I think I'll climb through my monitor and into those stars. Beautiful. :-)... more »

tree's view

the town below is mostly asleepquiet is all around ussave for a gentle wind,a distant waterfall, and the sparkling stars above

+Silex Anthropos under a thousand stars, a tree to reach the sky,a town not so far

+Kab Yaj The composition, colors, and starry night sky...beautiful! I don't know if anyone can see it, but I see a little boy hunching over squatting on his legs on the ground holding a big ball from the formation of the stars! It's 45 degrees angle to the left of the tree and you have to tilt your head 45 degrees to the right of the tree to see it. LOL

+Anna Lowry And on that note +shirley lo, I think I'll climb through my monitor and into those stars. Beautiful. :-)

+Joy Hanson Conveys a sense of tranquility. Nature is a calming force amidst the turmoil of life.

+Darrell Hudson I grasp my hand with a delicate grip and tremble as the enjoyment of admiration captivates me while gazing at your pleasing presentation.

+Dino Danubrata "This beautiful image", your statement in this picture took me feel lonely city viewed from a distance as in a fairy tale story book children of ... greeting familiar from Indonesia shirley lo

+sandeep dahiya i want to have my house there

+Warren Sebastian branching out to the stars & beyond! :) Great image!

+John Yee Lovely photo! Almost like the tree is reaching for the stars

+MariaRosaria Aria Hi Shirley, is suggestive, that attracts me, the game of life with light and the contrast with the barren and lifeless tree!

+Matthew Neason It's like the breath of the almighty, working miracles while the world slumbers. This is such a tranquil and peaceful photo yet, somehow, there seems to be a great conflict here. It really amazes me that so much can be captured in the instant by a camera, or for that matter an artistic rendering. It redefines my concept of infinity by adding some beauty to the equation. Touch the sky...

+ปฏิญญา ครองกาย All of my life's chores.Along an invisible one.Alone in a closed path.I want my heart back together.Abstracted in the night sky without the stars.It is not even cold moonlight.Pain deep in my heart because of that.My heart aches because my mind.One minute the girl's life.Every day I have not been released.One side no-one minutes.Do with this girl.I would have to die with me.I take this as a shadow.I live every day. I live anywhere.The girl has never been lost........

+John Freeman This Ethereal Image reminds of the the loneness I have in Life. For I believe that two must first share spirit, then mind, then heart and finally the body and then they are truly one. And as the tree pressed against the Universe, stripped of its leaves and possibly life; yet it exist.

+Christopher John O' Sullivan There's nothing quite like a starry night to awaken your imagination. This is spectacular.﻿___

+Christian Reyes Will I turn out to be the father my daughter deserves?

+Sonny Mikeal Did I teach my kids to be good people, parents and citizens for their future?

+Vivek Saurabh whether i will die with or without her..........

+George Hayes Not so sure I am worried so much about my future as I am my son's. Or maybe this nations future, are we going to keep throwing money away on the few verse the majority. Shouldn't we do what is best for most not what is best for the least?

+Natasha Weston Knowing that my cancer has gone for good so I can watch my kids grow up and be a grandma!! Life is my precious!!

+Michelle Torio Very futuristic effect! Cool shot! :) As for the future, well, I don't really know if it exist...I live for the present.

+Scott Hammack I would want to know whether the world will end during my lifetime.

+Alexander N. Benner What I would ask, when ever I would get the real chance to ask this question :)

+Danielle Armstrong Probably question we all ask ourselves...when does it end?

+Justin Hill I'd want to know "Does it all work out OK in the end?"

+Karine Viala In my opinion I would like to know if the future does exist..

+Chris Queen Every day is a gift thats why we call it the present. If I know what that day or any day holds it would not be a gift any more so I have to say my answer to the question is. I would not want to know nothing..I love each day being a suprise..Great shot I do love how you captured this

+Joy Hanson I have so many concerns about the future but I'd be happy if there's no new devastating disease. AIDS came from out of the blue and is taking a toll on us as it's communicable.

+John Freeman All time is Present, Future, Past; It is only a separation just like a distance

+Paul Tran - FYI 1 light year= 9.46 trillions kilometersX100 light year..( we will not good young or alive at the end ..Haha)

+Rhomnick Coloma its hard to event just pretending that you foresee your future. idon't know what's gonna happen to me but surely, everyone will be happy when you have a big God beside you....

+Matthew Neason What will the experience be when the soul parts from the body? I wonder if I'd even be able to understand this answer, if the comprehension changes.

+Thomas Mackey That you cannot know your future...

+Tze Tuo Cheung Vivas I think that I would like to know whether I will be happy in the future, anything more specific is too much information.

+maria annunziata orsini I believe it's better not to know it

+Zia NoLastName this is so much like the future to or for your destiny. and it changes your mind about the future.

+stewra darkness I don't want to know the future. I try to do it.The photo is fine. Similar on flight in infinity.

+vivek singh i don't want to know about my future.....bcoz i hate future.i wanna live in present...

+David Rosenthal I honestly don't want to know anything about my future. I like the ride just the way it is.

+Jorge A. Wong And in answer to your question, I think it is best if we didn't know in advance what our future holds, except for the positive things. Otherwise, we would not even try to make a good life if we know what it will become. Those are just my thoughts. How about you Shirley?

+christina gramling NOTHING! I like surprise and anticipation :)

+Christian Anderl thinking about your question for 3 minutes now, but honestly, i wouldn´t even want to know this one thing about my future, i love to go the way not knowing what the next step will bring ... but great photo, nice work! ;)

+Thomas Schmidt next set of lottery numbers! would make a whole lot of things easier.

+Meg Rousher If I only had one place I could pick I guess it would be to Bill Gates garage & buy in :) If I made it back then I could go everywhere else & if not I wouldn't have to wait long for the digital age :)﻿___

+Matthew Neason - It seems so alien but there is still that human fragility to it...

+jonas eggen Mine would be a rabbit whit a waistcoat =:x

Yes, but I must hurry now, haven't got much time. "Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting!" ; PI like stories about interspecies relations. I had a girlfriend once who had a dog, cat and a bunny, and they used to chase each other in this order, rabbit, cat, dog. And then after a while, turn around and it would be rabbit, cat, dog. I see now while writing this that the cat wanted to be in the center of things....

+Darkside Kl - Nice..I love reading animal facts....! My fav animal is the Blue Poison Dart frog.....! I love the colour . The Poison dart frog has amazing toxicity , the powerful venom can kill around 10 to 11 grown men sounds wicked cool. Well not only that there are medical research communities exploring more about this animal , so do I wanna explore. This animal was even used in a weapon by the people of Colombia for hunting on the tip﻿___

the seagull and i had a mutual understanding...he performed by hopping between stonesin return for my smiles from a comfortable distance

he tilted his head with curiosity,and seemed entertained to observe his observeras a parting gift, i'd like to think he performed for me one last time,launching off the rock back into his world in the sky :)

+Charles Lu﻿

liftoffrock launchpad

the seagull and i had a mutual understanding...he performed by hopping between stonesin return for my smiles from a comfortable distance

he tilted his head with curiosity,and seemed entertained to observe his observeras a parting gift, i'd like to think he performed for me one last time,launching off the rock back into his world in the sky :)

+Tsegaye Hidru I think our virtual and physical life is overlapping so quickly that we don't even realize how much we are sinking in. I'm writing to you guys with an online blueprint, a world of viruality. Although we never had a time to drink coffee together, we are sipping the logics, arguments, great points over my screen/keyboard by reading yours. We can't slow it down, we fear we will be lost, lost behind, not able to catch up. When one rides their car to another place, one has a chance of... more »

paper to pixels

it's been a steady transition from paper to pixels

are we going forwards and/or backwards in terms of quality of communication?what type of content might be better suited for paper or pixels?

+Tsegaye Hidru I think our virtual and physical life is overlapping so quickly that we don't even realize how much we are sinking in. I'm writing to you guys with an online blueprint, a world of viruality. Although we never had a time to drink coffee together, we are sipping the logics, arguments, great points over my screen/keyboard by reading yours. We can't slow it down, we fear we will be lost, lost behind, not able to catch up. When one rides their car to another place, one has a chance of enjoying the scenery, scents the surrounding fauna and feels like very existent locally, but taking the plane would have a better quality and faster without enjoying the surroundings as much.

The following is taken from what I G+ posted about Encyclopaedia Britannica vs the Internet(web) & Wikipedia in March '12 when EB stopped their print versions.

It's a new world with a new order.

In the age of dinosaurs, Encyclopedia Britannica reigned and covered with its musty smell, the backyard sections of public libraries and decorated walls of palaces for more than two centuries. That was when media means almost equivalent to books.

Rapid technological advances and the evolution of the media culminating on the introduction of the Internet in the last two decades have brought the fastest information exchange and easy access to data available around the globe.

Wikipedia out of this sea of information become the new king and aggressively conquered and spread like a wild fire...a singularity effect as it tries to travel like speed of light. Boom!

After battlefields on print and online grounds for over a decade, finally, Wikipedia and the web together got a sigh of relief as Encyclopaedia Britannica succumbed to its injuries.+scott werle - Paper? or Pixels?- Which better serves Communication? I don't think it is a ? of moving forward or backward. It is always going to be difficult for some peeps to communicate. You could give some people ESP( telepathy) and they would still be talking in circles.

+Ivan Kostadinov - It should depend on the environment and the intent. For example if you try to put some art work of yours on a mountain,so that it can be visible from the ISS (the Space Station), what will be the best - using some projector or painting the mountain itself. :) Quality depend on us - it doesn`t matter what kind of media we choose.

+Rick Gould - Love the photo. In person is the best communication, then video with sound, then photo, then words. We are moving forwards when we can appreciate the beauty of your photograph that we couldn't years ago.

+Paul Tran - All depend what u try to show us...some latest camera does an Excellent job. In paper, your pro level printer will match what you want to see.

+Tze Tuo Cheung Vivas - Great picture and concept behind this. I think most things can be moved into pixels for now. There are some exceptions that would be more personal notes/letters. Some thoughts are still better on paper.

+Geert Vermeiren - Hmm.. paper or pixels? Let's make it a bit broader... analog vs. digital :-) About a year ago I switched from old school analog cable TV to (drum roll) "Digital TV". Since that day I have been humongously annoyed by the compression artifacts (blobs, blotches, blocks, etc...) showing up in the daily slush pouring from my HD flat Bravissimo... I'm seriously contemplating ditching one-way media distribution completely.On the other hand, if resolution, skillz and toolz find a delicate balance in the digital world, miracles can be coerced. ;-)

+Gary Sandberg - We are going backwards....the time and care it took to make a book combined with the expense to buy one made it valuable. Pixels come and go by the Gigas-takes little to create them, delete keys to remove them....we have days and pages of files we never have the time to look at-even 'good stuff' is lost in the massiveness.

+fabio flaminio - there is no content in a pixel. is the frame of the picture, but is not palpable. in the paper, whether in liquid you feel, then the feelings.

+Brandon McWilliams - If they started leaving the iPad version of the Gideon Bible in hotel rooms, there'd be far fewer of them left in the morning.﻿___

+Duda Fav - looking forward for weather to become nicer since i dislike hot weather!

+Chad LaFarge - I taught my six-year-old to ride her bike this past month, so that will go down as the milestone of the season. Beautiful photo.

+Christian Reyes - My favorite summer memory is by far the opportunity to experience my young daughter's second summer through her eyes, discovering the carpenter bees that nested on our deck, the birds that nested in the trees and the long summer days that turned into the most beautiful sunsets, hearing her yell "Sky" and after 2 months of constant repetition finally hearing her say... more »

end of summer

what were your favorite summer memoriesand what are you looking forward to in the fall? :)

+Duda Fav - looking forward for weather to become nicer since i dislike hot weather!

+Chad LaFarge - I taught my six-year-old to ride her bike this past month, so that will go down as the milestone of the season. Beautiful photo.

+Christian Reyes - My favorite summer memory is by far the opportunity to experience my young daughter's second summer through her eyes, discovering the carpenter bees that nested on our deck, the birds that nested in the trees and the long summer days that turned into the most beautiful sunsets, hearing her yell "Sky" and after 2 months of constant repetition finally hearing her say "cielo" which means sky in Spanish. Staring at starry nights with her for the first time and enjoying those things that we often overlook as adults.I look forward to continue to dance with her this fall, since I started teaching her last month she never tires.Watching the leaves change colors and walking with her through the park.I wish to continue to see the world though her eyes and let my worries melt with her laughter.

+Spencer Spalding - Learned Italian this summer. Looking forward to: the next couple months have some really amazing full moons, so I guess some stargazing for me. Stunning picture.

+Amanda Torbitt - My favorite memory was camping and hanging out with family/friends, plus finding out about engagements/marriages. I'm looking forward to- weddings, cooler weather, leaves of the season, and football games, among other things. Beautiful photo by the way, I love the colors. So pretty!

+Michelle Torio - Stunning photo..like in the story books! Well, where I'm from is eternal summer with occasional rains. Vacation on the beach with friends and family is always a fav memory...looking forward to spending more time with them this season.

+Daniel Eriksson - No no no, what you saying? The summer aint over! ;P But awesome photo

+Tina Vale - In Arizona the summer never ends! I miss Fall~ crisp leaves, pumpkin spice, brisk air, sweaters! We used to live in Nashville, tenn. BEAUTIFUL change of seasons. Still trying to get used to two seasons here and as my friends son sums it up: Hot summer and cold summer :D﻿___

+Kieran Peters - The "what if's" of "history" are one thing. The "what if's" of ones own life are often tge path to "insanity". Lovely picture

+Kimberly Ryan - "many live with no regrets, but have you thought about "what ifs" and how tiny changes could have greatly changed the outcome either in history or your lives?" // Yes, and it's maddening :P﻿___

+JL Juarez - I wanna be a panda. Just sit and eat and get fat. Won't worry about money, jobs, mowing the lawn, cooking, politicians screwing each other, taxes, etc. Just some bamboo and roll around on my back, i'm satisfied.